6.

1 Momentum in one dimension

You can calculate the momentum of a particle and the impulse of a force.

• The momentum of a body of mass which is moving with velocity v is mv

If m is Kg and v is in 𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 then the units of momentum will be Kg𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 .

However, since Kg 𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 = (𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝑠𝑠 −1 )𝑠𝑠 and Kg 𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −2 are the units
of force (F=ma) you can also measure momentum in newton
seconds (N s).

Notation
Velocity is a vector quantity and
mass is a scalar, so momentum is a
vector quantity
 Example 1 Skills Problem solving

Find the magnitude of the momentum of:

a a cricket ball of mass 400g moving at 18 𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1

b a lorry of mass 5 tonnes moving at 0.3 𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 .

 • If a constant force F acts for time t then we define the impulse of the force
to be Ft.

If F is in N and t is in s then the units of impulse

will be N s.
Notation
force is a vector quantity and time is a
scalar, so impulse is a vector quantity.
Examples of an impulse include a bat hitting a ball, a snooker ball hitting another
ball or a jerk in a string when it suddenly goes tight. In all these cases the time for
which the force acts is very small but the force is quite large. This means that the
product of the two. Which gives the impulse, is of reasonable size. However,
there is no theoretical limit on the size of t.

Suppose a body of mass m is moving with an initial speed u and is then acted
upon by force F for time t. This results in its final speed being v.
𝑣𝑣−𝑢𝑢
Its acceleration is given by 𝑎𝑎 =
𝑡𝑡
𝑣𝑣−𝑢𝑢
Substituting into F = ma: 𝐹𝐹 = 𝑚𝑚( )
𝑡𝑡

𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = 𝑚𝑚(𝑣𝑣 − 𝑢𝑢) The impulse I of the force is given by 𝐼𝐼 = 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓

= 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 − 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

𝐼𝐼 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 − 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
Impulse = final momentum – initial momentum
impulse = change in momentum

This is called the impulse – momentum principle.

Watch out This is a vector

equation, so for motion in a straight
line a positive direction must be
chosen and each value must given
the correct sign.
 Example 2 Skills problem solving
A body of mass 2 Kg is initially at rest on a smooth horizontal plane.
a horizontal force of magnitude 4.5N acts on the body for s Find:
a the magnitude of the impulse given to the body by the force

b the final speed of the body.

 Example 3 Skills Problem solving

A ball of mass 0.2Kg hits a fixed vertical wall at right angles with speed 3.5𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 .
The ball rebound with speed 2.5𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . Find the magnitude of the impulse exerted
on the wall by ball.

Problem solving
because the wall is fixed you cannot apply the impulse-
momentum principle to it. Find the magnitude of the
impulse exerted on the ball by the wall and then use
Newton’s 3rd law to deduce that the magnitude of the
impulse exerted on the wall by the ball will be the same.
 Exercise 6A Skills Problem solving

1 A ball of mass 0.5Kg is at rest when it is struck by a bat and receives an impulse
of 15 N s. Find its speed immediately after it is struck.

2 A ball of mass 0.3Kg moving along horizontal surface hits a fixed vertical wall at
right angles with speed 3.5𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . The ball rebounds at right angles to the wall.
Given that the magnitude of the impulse exerted on the ball by the wall is 1.8N s,
find the speed of the ball just after it rebounds.
3 A toy car of mass 0.2Kg is pushed from rest along smooth horizontal floor by a
horizontal force of magnitude 0.4 N for 1.5s. Find its speed at the end of the 1.5s.

4 A ball of mas 0.2Kg, moving along a horizontal surface, hits a fixed vertical wall
at right angles the ball rebounds at right to the wall with speed 3.5𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . Given
that the magnitude of the impulse exerted on the ball by the wall is 2 N s. find the
speed of the ball just before it hits the wall. (3 Marks)
5 A ball of mass 0.2Kg is dropped from a height 2.5m above horizontal ground.
After hitting the ground it bounces to a height of 1.8m above the ground. Find the
magnitude of the impulse received by the ball from the ground. (4 marks)
6.2 Conversation of momentum
You can solve problem involving collisions the principle of conservation of
momentum.

By newton’s 3rd law, when two bodies collide, each one exerts an equal and
opposite force on the other. They are in contact for the same time, so they each
exert an impulse on the other of equal magnitude but in opposite directions.

By the impulse-momentum principle, the changes

each body are equal but opposite in direction.
Thus, these changes in momentum cancel each
other out, and the momentum of the whole
system is unchanged. This is called the principle of
momentum.

• Total momentum before impact = total momentum after impact

You can write this in symbols for two masses m,
and m, with speeds u, and u, respectively
before the collision, and speeds 𝑣𝑣1 and𝑣𝑣2
respectively after the collision.

• 𝑚𝑚1 𝑢𝑢1 + 𝑚𝑚2 𝑢𝑢2 = 𝑚𝑚1 𝑣𝑣1 + 𝑚𝑚2 𝑣𝑣2

When solving problems involving collisions, always:

• Draw a diagram showing the speeds before and after the collision with
arrows
• If appropriate, include the impulse on your diagram with arrows
• Choose a positive direction and apply the impulse-momentum principle
and/or the principle of conservation of momentum.
 Example 4 Skills Problem solving

A particle P of mass 2 Kg is moving with speed 3𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 on a smooth horizontal

plane. Particle Q of mass 3 Kg is at rest on the plane particle P collides with
7
particle Q and after the collision Q moves off with speed 𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 .Find:
3
a the speed and direction of motion of P after the collision
Online Explore particle
collisions using
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b the magnitude of the impulse received by P in the collision

 Example 5 Skills Problem solving

Two particles A and B, of masses 2Kg and 4Kg respectively, are moving toward
each other in opposite directions along the same straight line on a smooth
horizontal surface. The particles collide. Before the collision, the speeds of A and
B are 3𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 and 2𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 respectively. After the collision, the directions of motion
of A is reversed and its speed in 2𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . Find:
a the speed and direction of B after the collision

b the magnitude of the impulse given by A to B in the collision

 Example 6 Skills Problem solving

Two particles P and Q, of masses 8Kg and 2Kg respectively, are connected by a
light inextensible string. The particles at rest on a smooth horizontal plane with
the string slack. Particle P is projected directly away from Q with speed 4𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 .
a Find the common speed of the particles after the string goes taut.

b Find the magnitude of the impulse transmitted through the string when it goes
taut.
 Example 7 Skills Problem solving

Two particles A and B, of masses 2Kg and 4 Kg respectively, are moving toward
each other in opposite directions along the same straight line on a smooth
horizontal surface. The particles collide. Before the collision, the speeds of A and
B are 3 𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 and 2𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 respectively. Given that the magnitude of the impulse
due to the collisions in 7 N s, Find:
a the velocity of A after the collision

b the velocity of B after the collision

 Exercise 6B Skills Problem solving

1 A particle P of mass 2 Kg is moving on a smooth horizontal plane with speed

4𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . It collides with a second particle Q of mass 1 Kg which is at rest. After the
collision P has speed 2𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 and it continues to move in the same direction. Find
the speed of Q after the collision.

2 A railway truck of mass 25 tonnes moving at 4𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 collides with a stationary

truck of mass 20 tonnes. As a result of the collision the trucks couple together.
Find the common speed of the truck after the collision.
3 Particles A and B have masses 0.5Kg and 0.2Kg respectively. They are moving
with speeds 5𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 and 2𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 respectively in the same direction along the same
straight line on a smooth horizontal surface when they collide. After the collision,
A continues to move in the same direction with speed 4𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . Find the speed of B
after the collision.
4 A particle of mass 2Kg is moving on a smooth horizontal plane with speed
4𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . It collides with a second particle of mass 1 Kg which is at rest. After the
collision the particles join together.
a Find the common speed of the particles after the collision.

b Find the magnitude of the impulse in the collision.

5 Two particles A and B, of masses 2Kg and 5 Kg respectively, are moving toward
each other along the same straight line on a smooth horizontal surface, the
particles collide. Before the collision the speeds of A and B are 6𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 and 4𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1
respectively. After the collision the direction of motion of A is reversed and its
speed is 1.5𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . Find:
a the speed and direction of B after the collision

b the magnitude of the impulse given by A to B in the collision.

6 A particle P of mass 150g is at rest on a smooth horizontal plane. A second
particle Q of mass 100g is projected along the plane with speed 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑠𝑠 −1 and
collides directly with P on impact the Particles join together and move on with
speed 4𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . Find the value of u. (4 marks)
7 A particle A of mass 4m is moving along a smooth horizontal surface with speed
2u. It collides with another particle B of mass 3m which is moving with the same
speed along the same straight but in the opposite direction. Given that A is
brought to rest by the collision. Find:
a the velocity of B after the collision (3 Marks)

b the magnitude of the impulse given by A o B in the collision (3 Marks)

8 An explosive charge of ass 150g is designed to spilt into two parts, one with
mass 100g and the other with mass 50g. When the charge is moving at 4𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 it
splits and the larger part continues to move in the same direction while the
smaller part moves in the opposite direction. Given that the speed of the larger
part is twice the speed of the smaller part, find the speed of each of the two
parts.
9 Two particles P and Q, of masses m and km respectively, are moving toward
each other in opposite directions along the same straight line on a smooth
horizontal surface. The particles collide. Before the collision the speeds of P and Q
are 3u and u respectively. After the collision the direction of motion of both
particles is reversed and the speed of each particle is halved.
a Find the value of K (4 Marks)

b Find, in terms of m and u, the magnitude of the impulse given by P to Q in the

collision. (3 Marks)
10 Two particles A and B, of masses 4 Kg and 2Kg respectively, are connected by a
light inextensible string. The particles are at rest on a smooth horizontal plane
with the string slack. Particle A is projected directly away from B with speed
u𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . When the string goes taut the impulse transmitted through the string has
magnitude 6 N s Find:
a the common speed of the particles just after the string goes taut
(4 Marks)

b the value of u. (3 Marks)

11 Two particles P and Q of masses 3Kg and 2Kg respectively, are moving along
the same straight line on a smooth horizontal surface. The particles collide. After
the collision both the particles are moving in the same direction, the speed of P is
1𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 and the speed of Q is 1.5 𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 .
a the speed and direction of p before the collision (3 Marks)

b the speed and directions of Q before the collision (3 Marks)

12 Two particles A and B moving the same directions along the same a straight
line on a smooth horizontal surface. The particles collide. Before the collision the
speed of B is 1.5𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . After the collision the direction of motion of both particles
is unchanged, the speed of A is 2.5𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 and the speed of B is 3𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 .
a Given that the mass of A is three times the mass of B, Find the speed of A before
the collision. (4 Marks)

b Given that the magnitude of the impulse on 4 in the collision is 3 N s.

Find the mass of A. (3 Marks)
Challenge
Particle P has mass 3m Kg and particle Q has mass m Kg. The
particles are moving in opposite directions along the same
straight line on a smooth horizontal plane when they collide
directly. Immediately before the collision, the speed of P is u1
𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 and the speed of Q is 𝑢𝑢2 𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . In the collision, the
direction of motion of P is unchanged and the direction of Q is
1
reversed. Immediately after the collision, the speed of P is 𝑢𝑢1
2
1 2
and the speed of Q is 𝑢𝑢2 . Show that𝑢𝑢2 = 𝑢𝑢2 .
2 3
 Chapter review 6

1 A particle P of mass3m is moving along a straight line with constant speed 2u. It
collides with another particle Q of mass 4m which is moving with speed u along
the same line but in the opposite direction. As a result of the collision P is brought
to rest.
a Find the speed of Q after the collision and state its direction of motion

b Find the magnitude of the impulse exerted by Q on P in the collision.

2 A pile driver of mass 1000kg drives a pile of mass 200kg vertically into the
ground. The driver falls freely a vertical distance of 10m before hitting the pile.
Immediately after the driver impacts with the pile it can be assumed that they
both move with the same velocity. By modelling the pile and the driver as
particles, find:
a the speed of the driver immediately before it hits the pile (2 Marks)

B the common speed of the pile and driver immediately after the impact,
the ground provides a constant resistance to the motion of the pile driver
of magnitude 120000N. (3 Marks)
c Find the distance that the pile driven into the ground before coming to rest.
(2 Marks)

d comment on this model in relation to the motion of the pile and driver
immediately after impact. (1 Marks)
3 A car of mass 800Kg is travelling along a straight horizontal road. A constant
retarding force of FN reduces the speed of the car from 18𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 to12𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 in
2.4s .Calculate:
a The value of F (4 Marks)

b The distance moved by the car in these 2.4s. (3 Marks)

4 Two particles A and B, of masses 0.2Kg and0.3Kg respectively, are free to move
in a smooth horizontal groove. Initially B is at rest and A is moving toward B with a
speed of 4𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 , after the impact the speed of B is 1.5𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . Find:
a the speed of A after the impact (3 Marks)

b the magnitude of the impulse of B on A during the impact (3 Marks)

5 A railway truck P of mass 2000Kg is moving along a straight horizontal track with
speed 10𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . The truck P collides with a truck Q of mass 3000Kg, which is at
rest on the same track. Immediately after the collision Q moves with speed
5𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . Calculate:
a the speed of P immediately after the collision

b the magnitude of the impulse exerted by P on Q during the collision.

6 A particle P of mass 1.5Kg is moving along a straight horizontal line with speed
3𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . Another particle Q of mass 2.5Kg is moving, in the opposite direction,
along the same straight line with speed 4𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . The particles collide. Immediately
after the collision the direction of motion of P is reversed and its speed is
2.5𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 .
a Calculate the speed of Q immediately after the impact. (3 Marks)

b State whether or not the direction of motion of Q is changed by the collision.

(1 Marks)
c Calculate the magnitude of the impulse exerted by Q on P, giving the units of
your answer (3 Marks)
7 A particle A of mass m is moving with speed 2u in a straight line on a smooth
horizontal table, it collides with another particle B of mass Km which is moving in
the same straight line on the table with speed u in the opposite direction to A. In
2
the collision, the particles from a single particle which moves with speed 𝑢𝑢 in the
3
original direction of A’s motion.
Find the value of K. (3 Marks)
8 A metal pin of mass 2Kg is driven vertically into the ground by a blow a
sledgehammer of mass 10Kg. The hammer falls vertically onto the pin, its speed
just before impact being 9𝑚𝑚𝑠𝑠 −1 . In a model of the situation it is assumed that,
after impact, the pin and the hammer stay in contact and move together before
coming to rest.
a Find the speed of the pin immediately after impact. (3 Marks)
The pin moves 3cm into the ground before coming to rest. Answering in this
model that the ground exerts a constant resistive force of magnitude R newton’s
as the pin is driven down.
b Find the value of R (5 Marks)

c State one way in which this model might be refined to be more realistic.
(1 Mark)