Unit 1.

MOMENTUM & The science of collisions and

IMPULSE
explosions
Picture this…

Why should a moving truck

heading in your direction be scary?
 IGCSE Objectives
✔

✔
 Momentum - what is it?

direction of velocity vector = direction of momentum vector

 Calculating Momentum

Momentum of car?

Momentum of bus?

Momentum of train?
Other ways to use the formula

Can you solve this?

And another one…

Can you solve this?

 Changing Momentum
Let’s revisit Newton’s Second Law a bit…

Momentum of an object changes

when:
❖ Its mass changes;
❖ Its velocity changes
❖ Its direction changes
The math behind changing momentum

❖ When mass is constant ==>

❖ If we rewrite the equation for

acceleration ==>

2 equations for the same law; Newton’s second law of motion

The math behind changing momentum

Final Initial
momentum momentum

2 equations for the same law; Newton’s second law of motion

The math behind changing momentum
You can use this same equation for situations where:
❖ Mass changes
❖ Velocity changes
Only requires a rearranging of formula

This equation also tells you about the change in momentum when mass changes
What exactly is the change in momentum?

Let’s recall that:

❖ Velocity can change ==> acceleration or deceleration
❖ This requires ==> Force
❖ This equation tells you how much force is required to change the
object’s momentum i.e velocity, direction, or even mass.
Impulse - what is this?
 Impulse = product of force and time

❖ Impulse is a quantity that describes how

much time the force OR momentum
takes to act.
Key factor here: TIME
❖ For an object; more time for the force to Make sure you use the
correct time
act, slower change in momentum ==>
smaller impulse
Same equation, used in different ways.
Impulse = product of force and time
This is for
calculating Force during change
in momentum

❖ Notice the difference?

And this is for calculating

❖ You only need to move the position of
Impulse ‘time, t’ in the equation.

Same equation, used in different ways.

 Quick Recap

p = mv (kg m/s)
❖ Momentum = mass x velocity

❖ Force = rate of change in momentum

Unit: N or kg m/s2
❖ Impulse, J = change in momentum
❖ Impulse, J = how fast the force acts
❖ Impulse, J = Force x time taken
or
Unit: Ns
EXAMPLE 6:

What’s given?
• time, t = 40s
• force, F = 0.50N

What is needed to be found?

• Change in momentum

Change in momentum = Impulse

Impulse = Force x time
= 0.5N x 40s
= 20 Ns
EXAMPLE 7:

Impulse or change in momentum = force x time

= 100N x 6s
= 600 Ns
 EXAMPLE 8:

a. Calculate using Ft = m(v-u)

= 800kg x (14-24)m/s
What’s given? = 800kg x -10m/s = -8000 Ns
• Initial velocity, u = 24 m/s
• Final velocity, v = 14 m/s
• Mass, m = 800kg

Don’t freak out if

What is needed to be found? you see a negative value;
• Change in momentum a.k.a impulse understand what it
means.
EXAMPLE 8:

a. Calculate using Ft = m(v-u)

= 800kg x (14-24)m/s
= 800kg x -10m/s = -8000 Ns

To answer (b): Ft = m(v-u)

Use the answer from (a) F = -8000Ns / 20s
and the other side of the equation from (a) F = -400N

c. In the opposite direction to the car’s motion/the impulse

 Challenge questions

Use this:

AND take note of the direction; negative

sign is a thing! t = 0.0379 s
Challenge questions

Change in momentum = mv - mu
= 1.3 (22 - (-13))
= 1.3kg x 35m/s
= 45.5 Ns

Ft = mv-mu = 45.5 t = 0.0379 s

1200N x t = 45.5 Ns
T = 45.5 /1200 N
T = 0.038 s
 Try this for a challenge

a) impulse, Ft = m(v-u)
Ft= 1500 kg x (2.6 + 15)m/s
= 26400 Ns
b) Impulse = Ft
F = Impulse / t
F = 26400 / 0.15
F = 176000 N
Principle of conservation of momentum

What do you think it says?

Need a demo?
PRINCIPLE OF CONSERVATION
OF LINEAR MOMENTUM
If objects collide,
the total momentum before the
collision is the same
as the total momentum after the
collision
provided that no external forces (
for example, friction) act on the
system.
 Types of collisions

2 objects before collision. 2 objects after collision

2 objects before collision. 1 object after collision

1 object before collision. 2 objects after collision

 For all types of collisions,
Just remember:

Total momentum before collision = Total momentum after collision

Watch out for the direction of the velocity; use the negative signs wherever necessary in your calculations.
That’s pretty much it.
 Elastic collisions
Ways this can happen:
❖ 2 Objects coming from opposite
directions ==> collide and move
away from each other
❖ 2 Objects coming from opposite
directions ==> collide and move in
either one direction
❖ 2 objects moving in the same
direction ==> collide and move in
the same direction BUT different
velocities
❖ 1 moving object collides with 1
stationary object ==> momentum
is transferred fully/partially ==> ?
Elastic collisions
Example1
 Example 2

(16kg x -12.5) + (14kg x 16) = (16kg X v?) + (14kg X -14.4)

-200 + 224 = 16v + (-201.6)
16v = -201.6 - 24
v = -225.6 / 16
v = -14.1m/s
 Now try this

(0.165 x -0.7) + (0.165 x 0.5) = (0.165 x 0.4) + (0.165 x v?)

-0.033 = 0.066 + 0.165v
v = (-0.033-0.066) / 0.165
v = -0.6m/s
 Inelastic collision

Either:
❖ 2 moving objects
❖ Or 1 moving, 1 stationary
Sticking together after collision
Inelastic collision

Where:
m1 = mass of the first object
m2 = mass of the 2nd object
v1i = initial velocity of m1
v2i = initial velocity of m2
vf = final velocity
Study this example
Study this example
Study this example
 Solve this.
Find the speed of the bullet before it hit the target.

Total momentum before = total momentum after

(0.02kg X v) + (2.5kg X 0) = (2.5kg + 0.02kg) X 1.2m/s
0.02v = 2.52kg X 1.2m/s
0.02v = 3.024
v = 3.024 / 0.02
v = 151.2m/s
 Where is the knowledge of momentum applied?

Airbags are there to increase the amount of time for the force to act on the
person. Same applies to the bumpers, designed to crumble easily to reduce
force of impact

(applied physics: IMPULSE)

Observe what happens when the
knee is bent, and when its not…
In sports too…

Air mattresses are there to increase the amount of time for the force to act on
the person. Same applies to ice-skaters performing jumps, the knee is bent
to reduce shock and control the landing.

(applied physics: IMPULSE)

 Golf and baseball

What principle is applied here?

“Smack-down”s!

Wrestling ring floors

are designed to
absorb the shock of
the impact, making
smack downs look
impressive without
hurting or injuring
the wrestlers.
 Shock absorbers
Watch the tires as it touches ground…
Shock absorbers are designed to reduce
the impact experienced by the riders.

Due to conservation of momentum, if the

shock absorbers fail, the rider will be
thrown off the bike.
 Rocket launches
❖ Explosions are just another application of conservation of
momentum, allowing huge mass to be launched into orbit.
 Satellite launches in space

Conservation of momentum is crucial here to make sure the parent satellite does not get
pushed off-course when the smaller satellite is pushed away into orbit.
 Artillery shells and cannons

Hi-tech artillery shells are designed to explode on impact, and this is done by calculation using
principles of conservation of momentum.
 IGCSE Objectives
✔