Physics 111: Mechanics

Lecture 12
Dale Gary
NJIT Physics Department

Linear Momentum
and Collisions

Conservation
of Energy
Momentum
Impulse
Conservation
of Momentum
1-D Collisions
2-D Collisions
The Center of Mass
April 8, 2015

Conservation of Energy

E = K + U = 0 if conservative forces are

the only forces that do work on the system.
The total amount of energy in the system is
constant. 1 mv 2 mgy 1 kx 2 1 mv 2 mgy 1 kx 2
2

E = K + U = -fkd if friction forces are doing

work on the system.
The total amount of energy in the system is still
constant, but the change in mechanical energy
1 2 or
1 2
1 2
1 heat.
2
goes into
energy
f d internal
mv mgy kx mv mgy kx
k

April 8, 2015

Linear Momentum

This is a new fundamental quantity, like force,

energy. It is a vector quantity (points in same
direction as velocity).
The linear momentum p of an object of mass m
moving with a velocity v is defined to be the
product of the mass and velocity:

p mv

The terms momentum and linear momentum will

be used interchangeably in the text
Momentum depend on an objects mass and
velocity
April 8, 2015

Momentum and Energy

Two objects with masses m1 and m2

have equal kinetic energy. How do
the magnitudes of their momenta
compare?
(A) p1 < p2
(B) p1 = p2
(C) p1 > p2
(D) Not enough information is given
April 8, 2015

Linear Momentum, contd

r
r
Linear momentum is a vector quantity
p mv
Its direction is the same as the direction
of the velocity
The dimensions of momentum are ML/T
The SI units of momentum are kg m / s
Momentum can be expressed in
component form:
px = mvx py = mvy pz = mvz
April 8, 2015

Newtons Law and

Momentum

Newtons Second Law can be used to

relate the momentum of an object to the
resultant force
onit

acting

v (mv )
Fnet ma m

t
t

The change in an objects momentum

divided by the elapsed time equals the
constant net force acting on the object

p change in momentum

Fnet
t
time interval
April 8, 2015

Impulse

When a single, constant force acts on the

object, there is an impulse delivered to

the object

I Ft

r
I is defined as the impulse
The equality is true even if the force is not
constant
Vector quantity, the direction is the same as
the direction
of the force
p change in momentum

Fnet
t
time interval
April 8, 2015

Impulse-Momentum
Theorem

The theorem states

that the impulse
acting on a system
is equal to the
change in
momentum of the

system
p F t I
net

I p mv f mvi
April 8, 2015

Calculating the Change of

Momentum

r r
r
p pafter pbefore
mvafter mvbefore
m(vafter vbefore )
For the teddy bear

p m 0 (v) mv

For the bouncing ball

p m v (v) 2mv
April 8, 2015

How Good Are the Bumpers?

In a crash test, a car of mass 1.5103 kg collides with a wall and
rebounds as in figure. The initial and final velocities of the car
are vi=-15 m/s and vf = 2.6 m/s, respectively. If the collision lasts
for 0.15 s, find
(a) the impulse delivered to the car due to the collision
(b) the size and direction of the average force exerted on the car

April 8, 2015

How Good Are the Bumpers?

In a crash test, a car of mass 1.5103 kg collides with a wall and
rebounds as in figure. The initial and final velocities of the car
are vi=-15 m/s and vf = 2.6 m/s, respectively. If the collision lasts
for 0.15 s, find
(a) the impulse delivered to the car due to the collision
(b) the size and3 direction of the average
force exerted on the car
pi mvi (1.5 10 kg )(15m / s ) 2.25 10 4 kg m / s

p f mv f (1.5 103 kg )(2.6m / s ) 0.39 10 4 kg m / s

I p f pi mv f mvi
(0.39 10 4 kg m / s ) (2.25 10 4 kg m / s )
2.64 10 4 kg m / s
p I
2.64 10 4 kg m / s
Fav

1.76 105 N
t t
0.15s
April 8, 2015

Impulse-Momentum
Theorem

A child bounces a 100 g superball on the

sidewalk. The velocity of the superball
changes from 10 m/s downward to 10
m/s upward. If the contact time with the
sidewalk is 0.1s, what is the magnitude
of the impulse imparted to the superball?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)

0
2 kg-m/s
20 kg-m/s
200 kg-m/s
2000 kg-m/s

I p mv f mvi

April 8, 2015

Impulse-Momentum
Theorem 2

A child bounces a 100 g superball on the

sidewalk. The velocity of the superball
changes from 10 m/s downward to 10
m/s upward. If the contact time with the
sidewalk is 0.1s, what is the magnitude
of the force between the sidewalk and
the superball?
(A) 0

I
p mv f mvi
(B) 2 N
F

(C) 20 N
t t
t
(D) 200 N
(E) 2000 N
April 8, 2015

Conservation of Momentum

In an isolated and closed

system, the total momentum
of the system remains constant
in time.

Isolated system: no external

forces
Closed system: no mass enters or
leaves
The linear momentum of each
colliding body may change
The total momentum P of the
system cannot change.
April 8, 2015

Conservation of Momentum

Start from impulsemomentum theorem

F21t m1v1 f m1v1i

F12 t m2 v2 f m2 v2i

Since

F21t F12 t

Then m1v1 f m1v1i (m2 v2 f m2 v2i )

So

m1v1i m2 v2i m1v1 f m2 v2 f

April 8, 2015

Conservation of Momentum

When no external forces act on a system

consisting of two objects that collide with each
other, the total momentum of the system remains

in time

constant
Fnet t p p f pi

Fnet 0

p 0

When
then

For an pisolated
system
f pi
Specifically, the total momentum before the
the total momentum

collision will equal

after the
m
v

m
v

m
v

m
v
1 1i
2 2i
1 1f
2 2f
collision
April 8, 2015

The Archer
An archer stands at rest on frictionless ice and fires a 0.5-kg
arrow horizontally at 50.0 m/s. The combined mass of the
archer and bow is 60.0 kg. With what velocity does the archer
move across the ice after firing the arrow?

pi p f

m1v1i m2v2i m1v1 f m2 v2 f

m1 60.0kg , m2 0.5kg , v1i v2i 0, v2 f 50m / s, v1 f ?

0 m1v1 f m2 v2 f
m2
0.5kg
v1 f
v2 f
(50.0m / s ) 0.417 m / s
m1
60.0kg
April 8, 2015

Conservation of Momentum

A 100 kg man and 50 kg woman on ice

skates stand facing each other. If the
woman pushes the man backwards so
that his final speed is 1 m/s, at what
speed does she recoil?
(A) 0
(B) 0.5 m/s
(C) 1 m/s
(D) 1.414 m/s
(E) 2 m/s
April 8, 2015

Types of Collisions
Momentum is conserved in any collision
Inelastic collisions: rubber ball and hard ball

Elastic collisions: billiard ball

Kinetic energy is not conserved

Perfectly inelastic collisions occur when the
objects stick together
both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved

Actual collisions

Most collisions fall between elastic and perfectly

inelastic collisions

April 8, 2015

Collisions Summary

In an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic

energy are conserved
In a non-perfect inelastic collision, momentum is
conserved but kinetic energy is not. Moreover, the
objects do not stick together
In a perfectly inelastic collision, momentum is
conserved, kinetic energy is not, and the two objects
stick together after the collision, so their final
velocities are the same
Elastic and perfectly inelastic collisions are limiting
cases, most actual collisions fall in between these two
types
Momentum is conserved in all collisions
April 8, 2015

More about Perfectly Inelastic

Collisions

When two objects stick

together after the collision,
they have undergone a
perfectly inelastic collision
Conservation of momentum

m1v1i m2 v2i (m1 m2 )v f

m1v1i m2 v2i
vf
m1 m2
Kinetic energy is NOT
conserved
April 8, 2015

An SUV Versus a Compact

An SUV with mass 1.80103 kg is travelling

eastbound at +15.0 m/s, while a compact car
with mass 9.00102 kg is travelling westbound at
-15.0 m/s. The cars collide head-on, becoming
entangled.
(a)
Find the speed of the
entangled cars after the
collision.
(b)
Find the change in the
velocity of each car.
(c)
Find the change in the
kinetic energy of the
system consisting of both
April 8, 2015
cars.

An SUV Versus a Compact

(a)

Find the speed of the

entangled cars after the
collision.
pi p f

m1 1.80 103 kg , v1i 15m / s

m2 9.00 10 2 kg , v2i 15m / s

m1v1i m2v2i (m1 m2 )v f

m1v1i m2 v2i
vf
m1 m2
v f 5.00m / s
April 8, 2015

An SUV Versus a Compact

(b)

Find the change in the

velocity of each car.

v f 5.00m / s

m1 1.80 103 kg , v1i 15m / s

m2 9.00 10 2 kg , v2i 15m / s

v1 v f v1i 10.0m / s
v2 v f v2i 20.0m / s
m1v1 m1 (v f v1i ) 1.8 10 4 kg m / s
m2 v2 m2 (v f v2i ) 1.8 10 4 kg m / s
m1v1 m2 v2 0
April 8, 2015

An SUV Versus a Compact

(c)

Find the change in the

3
m

1
.
80

10
kg , v1i 15m / s
kinetic energy of the system 1
m2 9.00 10 2 kg , v2i 15m / s
consisting of both cars.
v f 5.00m / s

1
1
2
KEi m1v1i m2 v22i 3.04 105 J
2
2
1
1
2
KE f m1v1 f m2 v22 f 3.38 10 4 J
2
2
KE KE f KEi 2.70 105 J
April 8, 2015

More About Elastic Collisions

Both momentum and kinetic

energy are conserved
m1v1i m2 v2i m1v1 f m2 v2 f
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
m1v1i m2 v2i m1v1 f m2 v22 f
2
2
2
2

Typically have two unknowns

Momentum is a vector quantity

Direction is important
Be sure to have the correct signs

Solve the equations

simultaneously
April 8, 2015

Elastic Collisions

A simpler equation can be used in place of the

KE equation1
1
1
1
2
2
2
m1v1i m2 v2i m1v1 f m2 v22 f
2
2
2
2
m1 (v12i v12f ) m2 (v22 f v22i )

v v ( v v )

m1 (v11i i v1 f )(v21ii v1 f ) m21(fv2 f v22i )(f v2 f v2i )

m1v1i m2 v2i m1v1 f m2 v2 f

m1 (v1i v1 f ) m2 (v2 f v2i )

v1i v1 f v2 f v2i
m1v1i m2 v2i m1v1 f m2 v2 f
April 8, 2015

Summary of Types of
Collisions
In an elastic collision, both momentum and
kinetic energy are conserved

v1i v1 f v2 f v2i

m1v1i m2 v2i m1v1 f m2 v2 f

In an inelastic collision, momentum is conserved

but kinetic energy is not

m1v1i m2 v2i m1v1 f m2 v2 f

In a perfectly inelastic collision, momentum is

conserved, kinetic energy is not, and the two
objects stick together after the collision, so their
final velocities
m v are
mthe
v same
( m m )v
1 1i

2 2i

April 8, 2015

Conservation of Momentum

An object of mass m moves to the right with

a speed v. It collides head-on with an object
of mass 3m moving with speed v/3 in the
opposite direction. If the two objects stick
together, what is the speed of the combined
object, of mass 4m, after the collision?
(A) 0
(B) v/2
(C) v
(D) 2v
(E) 4v
April 8, 2015

Problem Solving for 1D

Collisions, 1

Coordinates: Set up a
coordinate axis and
define the velocities with
respect to this axis

It is convenient to make
your axis coincide with
one of the initial velocities

Diagram: In your
sketch, draw all the
velocity vectors and
label the velocities and
the masses
April 8, 2015

Problem Solving for 1D

Collisions, 2

Conservation of
Momentum: Write a
general expression for
the total momentum of
the system before and
after the collision

Equate the two total

momentum expressions
Fill in the known values

m1v1i m2 v2i m1v1 f m2 v2 f

April 8, 2015

Problem Solving for 1D

Collisions, 3

Conservation of
Energy: If the collision is
elastic, write a second
equation for conservation
of KE, or the alternative
equation

This only applies to

perfectly elastic collisions

v1i v1 f v2 f v2i

Solve: the resulting

equations simultaneously
April 8, 2015

One-Dimension vs TwoDimension

April 8, 2015

Two-Dimensional Collisions

For a general collision of two objects in twodimensional space, the conservation of

momentum principle implies that the total
momentum of the system in each direction is
conserved

m1v1ix m2 v2ix m1v1 fx m2 v2 fx

m1v1iy m2 v2iy m1v1 fy m2 v2 fy

April 8, 2015

Two-Dimensional Collisions
The momentum is conserved in all
directions
m1v1ix m2 v2ix m1v1 fx m2 v2 fx
Use subscripts for
m1v1iy m2 v2iy m1v1 fy m2 v2 fy

Identifying the object

Indicating initial or final values
The velocity components

If the collision is elastic, use conservation

of kinetic energy as a second equation

Remember, the simpler equation can only be

v1i v1 f v2 f v2i
used for one-dimensional situations
April 8, 2015

Glancing Collisions

The after velocities have x and y

components
Momentum is conserved in the x direction and
in the y direction
Apply conservation
of2v2momentum
separately
m1v1ix m
ix m1v1 fx m2 v2 fx
to each direction
mv m v mv m v
1 1iy

2 2 iy

1 1 fy

2 2 fy

April 8, 2015

2-D Collision, example

Particle r1 is moving
v1i
at velocity
and
particle 2 is at rest
In the x-direction,
the initial
momentum is m1v1i

In the y-direction,
the initial
momentum is 0
April 8, 2015

2-D Collision, example cont

After the collision, the

momentum in the x-direction
is m1v1f cos m2v2f cos

After the collision, the

momentum in the y-direction
is m1v1f sin m2v2f sin
m1v1i 0 m1v1 f cos m2 v2 f cos
0 0 m1v1 f sin m2 v2 f sin

If the collision is elastic, apply1

1
1
2
2
2
m
v

m
v

m
v
1
1
i
1
1
f
2
2
f
the kinetic energy equation 2
2
2
April 8, 2015

Collision at an Intersection
A car with mass 1.5103 kg
traveling east at a speed of 25
m/s collides at an intersection
with a 2.5103 kg van traveling
north at a speed of 20 m/s. Find
the magnitude and direction of
the velocity of the wreckage after
the collision, assuming that the
vehicles undergo a perfectly
inelastic collision and assuming
that friction between the vehicles
and
m the
1.5road
103 kgcan
, m be
2.5 neglected.
103 kg

vcix 25m / s, vviy 20m / s, v f ? ?

April 8, 2015

Collision at an Intersection
mc 1.5 103 kg, mv 2.5 103 kg
vcix 25 m/s, vviy 20 m/s, v f ? ?

p
p

xi

mc vcix mv vvix mc vcix 3.75 10 4 kg m/s

xf

mc vcfx mv vvfx (mc mv )v f cos

3.75 10 4 kg m/s (4.00 103 kg)v f cos

p
p

yi

mc vciy mv vviy mv vviy 5.00 10 4 kg m/s

yf

mc vcfy mv vvfy (mc mv )v f sin

5.00 10 4 kg m/s (4.00 103 kg )v f sin

April 8, 2015

Collision at an Intersection
mc 1.5 103 kg , mv 2.5 103 kg
vcix 25m / s, vviy 20m / s, v f ? ?
5.00 10 4 kg m/s (4.00 103 kg)v f sin
3.75 10 4 kg m/s (4.00 103 kg)v f cos
5.00 10 4 kg m / s
tan
1.33
4
3.75 10 kg m / s

tan 1 (1.33) 53.1

5.00 10 4 kg m/s
vf
15.6 m/s
3

(4.00 10 kg ) sin 53.1

April 8, 2015

The Center of Mass

How

should we
define the position
of the moving
body ?
What is y for Ug =
mgy ?
Take the average
position of mass.
Call Center of
Mass (COM or CM)
April 8, 2015

The Center of Mass

There

is a special point in a system

or object, called the center of
mass, that moves as if all of the
mass of the system is concentrated
at that point
The CM of an object or a system is
the point, where the object or the
system can be balanced in the
uniform gravitational field
April 8, 2015

The Center of Mass

The center of mass of any symmetric object lies

on an axis of symmetry and on any plane of
symmetry
If the object has uniform density
The CM may reside inside the body, or outside
the body

April 8, 2015

Where is the Center of Mass

?

The center of mass of particles

Two bodies in 1 dimension

xCM

m1 x1 m2 x2

m1 m2
April 8, 2015

Center of Mass for

many particles in
3D?

April 8, 2015

Where is the Center of Mass

?

Assume m1 = 1 kg, m2 = 3 kg, and

x1 = 1 m, x2 = 5 m, where is the
m1 x1 m2 x2
center of mass of these twox objects?
CM
m1 m2
A) xCM = 1 m
B) xCM = 2 m
C) xCM = 3 m
D) xCM = 4 m
E) xCM = 5 m
April 8, 2015

Center of Mass
for a System of Particles

Two bodies and one dimension

General case: n bodies and three dimension

where M = m1 + m2 + m3 +

April 8, 2015

Sample Problem : Three particles of masses m1 =

1.2 kg, m2 = 2.5 kg, and m3 = 3.4 kg form an
equilateral triangle of edge length a = 140 cm.
Where is the center of mass of this system? (Hint: m1
is at (0,0), m2 is at (140 cm,0), and m3 is at (70 cm,
120 cm), as shown in the figure below.)
1 n
m1 x1 m2 x2 m3 x3
xCM
mi xi

M i 1
m1 m2 m3

yCM

m1 y1 m2 y2 m3 y3
mi yi

m1 m2 m3
i 1
n

xCM 82.8 cm

and

yCM 57.5 cm
April 8, 2015

Motion of a System of
Particles

Assume

the total mass, M, of the

system remains constant
We can describe the motion of the
system in terms of the velocity and
acceleration of the center of mass of
the system
We can also describe the momentum
of the system and Newtons Second
Law for the system
April 8, 2015

Velocity and Momentum of a

System of Particles

The velocity of the center of mass of a

system of particles
is
r
r
r
d rCM
1
vCM
mi v i
dt
M i

The momentum
can
be
expressed
as
r
r
r
r
MvCM mi v i pi p tot
i

The total linear momentum of the system

equals the total mass multiplied by the
velocity of the center of mass
April 8, 2015

Acceleration and Force of the

Center of Mass

The acceleration of the center of mass can

be found by differentiating the velocity with
respect tortimedvr
r
1
aCM

CM

dt

ma

M
i

The acceleration can be related to a force

r
r
MaCM Fi
i

If we sum over all the internal forces, they

cancel in pairs and the net force on the
system is caused only by the external
forces
April 8, 2015

Newtons Second Law

for a System of Particles

Since the only forces are external, the net

external force equals the total mass of the
system multiplied by the acceleration of the
center of mass:

r
r
Fext MaCM

The center of mass of a system of particles of

combined mass M moves like an equivalent
particle of mass M would move under the
influence of the net external force on the
system
April 8, 2015