NOTE

P H Y S I C S

CENTRE OF MASS
LINEAR MOMENTUM

What you already know What you will learn

• COM of discrete particles • Kinematics

Linear momentum
• COM of standard shapes • Newton’s second
laws of motion
law of motion
• Displacement, velocity, and acceleration • Conservation
Circular motion
of linear momentum
of COM

Linear Momentum


The linear momentum ( p ) of a particle is defined as the product of the mass and the velocity of the
particle in the direction of the velocity.
 
p = mv
It is a vector quantity.
Its SI unit is kg ms−1.
The momentum of an n-particle system is the vector sum of the individual momenta of the n-particles.
 = p + p + .... + p
ppnet
net = p11 + p22 + .... + pnn
   
⇒⇒ ppnet== m m1vv1 ++ mm2vv2 ++ ........ ++ mmnvvn 
net 1 1 2 2 n n
m2 v2
Also,
Also,
  
v = m m1vv1 ++ mm2vv2 ++ ....
.... ++ m mnvvn
vcom
com =
1 1 2 2 n n  
m + m + .... + m vn vcom
m11 + m22 + .... + mnn
   mn
 mm1vv1 ++ mm2vv2 ++ .... mnvvn
.... ++ m m1
⇒
⇒ vcomv =
com =
1 1 2 2 n n 
M
MTT v 1

Where, M
Where, MT == mm1 ++ m
m2 ++ .... mn == Constant
.... ++ m Constant
T 1 2 n
 
⇒ ppnet =
⇒ MTvvcom
=
M
net T com

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 02

Newton’s Second Law of Motion

Newton’s second law of motion states that the rate of change of the momentum of a system is
equal to the net external force acting on the system and it is in the direction of that force. We know
that the acceleration of the centre of mass of a system is given by the following:
  
 m1a1 + m2a2 + .... + mnan 
acom = m1a1 + m2a2 + .... + mnan
acom = m1 + m2 + .... + mn
 m1 + m2 + .... + mn 
⇒ MT acom= m1a1 + m2a2 + .... + mnan ...... ( i )
⇒ MT acom= m1a1 + m2a2 + .... + mnan ...... ( i )
Also, the net external force on the system is given by,
Also, the  net  external  force  on the system is given by,
∑ extF =1 F +2 F + .... +n F =1m1 a +2m2 a+ ....
F  = F +
 F + .... + F =
 m a + m a + mnan ...... ( ii )
∑ ext 1 2 n 1 1 2 2 + .... + mnan ...... ( ii )
Equating equations ( i ) and ( ii ) , we get,
 Equating equations ( i ) and ( ii ) , we get,
Fnet = MT acom
Fnet = MT acom  
By Newton's m1a1 + second
m2a2 + .... law +m ofnamotion, we get the following:
acom
By=Newton's second law of
n
motion, we get the following:

 • If the m1resultant
+m +m
dp2net+ ....of alln the external forces acting on the system of particles in a given time
Fnet M
= = acom  dpnet   linear momentum of the system in that time interval remains
=⇒FM a TM= m1isa1dt
=T acom + m2athen2 + .... + mnan ...... ( i )
interval
netT com
zero, the net
 constant. This dt is known as the principle of conservation of linear momentum (PCLM).
If, Fnet =
Also, the0, net external force on the system is given by,
If,•Fnet = 0, 
Interactions between particles (internal forces) of the system do not cause a change in the
a   
⇒∑⇒extacom =
F 
com =
= F0
momentum +
1 0 2F + ....
of + F
the n = m 1a1 + m2a2 + .... + mnan ...... ( ii )
system.
However, ng eitqdoes not iimply that ,the accelera tion of each particle of the system is zero.
Equati
However, it adoes
u tions ( ) and
not imply( iithat
) wetheget,
acceleration of each particle of the system is zero.
 Principle
Further,  of conservation of linear momentum MAIN
FnetFurther,
= M
 T com a
dpnet
⇒By Newton'sdp = 0 second law of motion, we get the following:
⇒dt net = 0 
  dt  dpnet
⇒
=FnetpnetM =
= Constant.
T acom
⇒ pnet = Constant.dt

If, Fnet = 0,

⇒ acom = 0
However, it does not imply that the acceleration of each particle of the system is zero.
Further,

dpnet
⇒ =0
dt

⇒ pnet = Constant.

Further, if the total mass of the system of particles (MT ) remains constant with time,

dpnet
=0
dt

dvcom  dMT
⇒ MT + vcom = 0
dt dt

dvcom
⇒ MT = 0
dt

⇒ vcom = Constant

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 03


If the rate of change of net momentum ( pnet ) is zero, then the velocity of the centre of mass
 
( vcom ) may be zero; however, that is not always the case. The only certain thing is that ( vcom ) is
constant and can possess any real value depending on the frame of reference.
Further,
    
m1v1i + m2v2i + .... + mn=
vni MT vcom
= pi
    
m1v1 f + m2v2 f + .... + mnv=nf MT vcom
= pf
 
⇒ pi =
pf

Hence, if the centre of mass of the system is at rest or moving with a constant velocity, then in the
absence of a non-zero net external force, the linear momentum of the system is conserved. This is
also known as the principle of conservation of linear momentum.
If the net external force on a system along a particular direction is zero, then the linear momentum
of the system  is conserved in  that direction. 
If, ∑ (( F  )) = 0 ⇒ ( p ) = (
(( pp fff )))system
p
If, ∑If,Fext∑

If,
()F
)
system = 0 ⇒ (( ppii =
 ))system =
( ∑system ( )
ext i
Fext
ext = 0
system
system
⇒ = ( 0
p i
⇒) system
p
system
system f
=
system system
system

Along
Along the the Cartesian axes,
AlongAlong the Cartesian
the Cartesian Cartesian axes, axes,
axes,
 
 ∑((
∑ F=

F )) = 0 ⇒ (p
(  )
) = (
( p f )
p ff )) xx
(∑• Fext∑() F
x 
ext x =
ext x =
0⇒
ext )
x (

0
0
p i
⇒
)
⇒
x
=( p i
p(ii p) xxf )=
x =
( p
x
 x

 ∑ (( F
∑ FF=

)) = 0 ⇒
 ⇒ (p ( p )
p(ii p))yyyf )=
i = (( pp ff )) y
p
(∑• Fext∑ ()
y 
ext y =
0⇒
ext
ext y
)
y =(
0
pi ⇒
0 ) y
(
= =
y
( f ) yy
 
•  ∑F ((
∑ FF=

))= 0 ⇒ ( i ) =
p
(( pp(ii p))zz )= (
(( pp fff )))zz
p
(∑ Fext∑ () ext zz =
ext

z
0⇒
ext z
)(
= 
0
0
p i
⇒
)
⇒
z
=
z

zf
=
z

• The principle of conservation of linear momentum is applicable to the system of particles

only when observed from an inertial frame of reference.
• The centre of mass can be moving with a non-zero constant velocity despite the absence
of the non-zero net external force.
• If the centre of mass of the system is at rest, then the linear momentum is conserved,
but if the linear momentum is conserved, then the centre of mass need not be at rest.
• The kinetic energies of the particles of a system may change depending on the internal
forces present even when the net external force is zero. Also, the total kinetic energy
of the system,

1 1
KE
= sys
2
( )
m1v12 + m2v22 + .... + mnvn2 ≠ MT vcom
2
2

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