Physics 12 - 4

12.
4
Momentum and Impulse
Momentum
Let’s assume there’s a car speeding toward you, out
of control without its brakes, at a speed of 27 m/s
(60 mph). Can you stop it by standing in front of
it and holding out your hand? Why not?
Unless you're Superman, you probably don't want to try

stopping a moving car by holding out your hand. It's too
big, and it's moving way too fast. Attempting such a feat
would result in a number of physics demonstrations
upon your body, all of which would hurt.
Momentum
We can't stop the car because it has too much
momentum. Momentum is a vector quantity, given
the symbol “p”, which measures how hard it is to stop
a moving object. Of course, larger objects have more
momentum than smaller objects, and faster objects
have more momentum than slower objects.
Momentum
Momentum can be defined as "mass in motion." All

objects have mass; so if an object is moving, then it
has momentum.
Momentum depends upon 2 variables:

1. Mass
2. Velocity
Momentum
Formula:
Momentum = mass x
velocity p = m  v
p = momentum
(kgm/s) m = mass
(kg)
v = velocity (m/s)
Momentum is a vector
 Momentum is a vector, so the direction of

momentum is the same as the direction of the
velocity vector.
 An object’s momentum will change if its mass

and/or velocity (speed and direction) changes.
Momentum is a vector
 According to Newton’s laws, a net force

causes an object to accelerate, or change its
velocity.
 A net force, therefore, causes a change in an

object’s momentum.
Momentum
Question:
Two trains, Big Red and Little Blue, have the same velocity.
Big Red, however, has twice the mass of Little Blue.
Compare
their momentum.
Momentum
Question:
Two trains, Big Red and Little Blue, have the same velocity.
Big Red, however, has twice the mass of Little Blue.
Compare
their momentum.
Answer:
Because Big Red has twice the mass of Little Blue, and
Big Red must have twice the momentum of Little
Blue.
Momentum Example #1
Example #1
A supersonic bomber, with a mass of 21,000 kg,
departs from its home airbase with a velocity of 400
m/s due east. What is the jet's momentum?
Momentum Example #1
Example #1
A supersonic bomber, with a mass of 21,000 kg,
departs from its home airbase with a velocity of 400
m/s due east. What is the jet's momentum?
p=mv
p = 21,000 kg  400 m/s
east p = 8,400,000 kg
m/s east
Momentum Example #2
Example #2
Now, let's assume the jet drops its payload and
has burned up most of its fuel as it continues its
journey to its destination air field.
If the jet's new mass is 16,000 kg, and due to its
reduced weight the pilot increases the cruising
speed to 550 m/s, what is the jet's new
momentum?
Momentum Example #2
Example #2
Now, let's assume the jet drops its payload and
has burned up most of its fuel as it continues its
journey to its destination air field.
If the jet's new mass is 16,000 kg, and due to its
reduced weight the pilot increases the cruising
speed to 550 m/s, what is the jet's new
momentum?
p=m·v
p = 16,000 kg x 550 m/s
east p = 8,800,000 kg
m/s east
Momentum Example
Example #3
A 588 N halfback is moving eastward at 9 m/s. What is
their momentum?
Momentum Example
Example #3
A 588 N halfback is moving eastward at 9 m/s. What is
their momentum?
539.45 kg m/s east

Momentum Example
Example #4
What is the momentum of a 1,000 kg car moving
northward at 20 m/s.
Momentum Example
Example #4
What is the momentum of a 1,000 kg car moving
northward at 20 m/s.
20,000 kg·m/s north

Impulse
Impulse -
Change in
Momentum
Impulse
Impulse –
Momentum
Formula
Impulse
If momentum changes, its

because mass or velocity
change.
Most often mass doesn’t

change so velocity changes
and this is acceleration.
Impulse
Applying a force over a

time interval to an object
changes the momentum.
A change in momentum
is known as an impulse.
1. What is the change
in momentum of a 950
kg car that travels
from 40 m/s to 31
m/s?
2. What is the change
in momentum of a 40
kg runner that travels
from 5 m/s to 11 m/s?
3. A mud blob, 0.350 kg,
is thrown at a wall at 10
m/s. The blob sticks to
the wall. What is the
change in momentum of
the blob?
4. A man with a weight of
75 kg is running with a
speed of 30 m/s. What is
its speed if the man
suddenly stops moving?
1. What is the change in momentum of a
55 kg runner that travels from 6 m/s to
12 m/s?
700 kg car that travels from 60 m/s to
40 m/s?
80 kg person that travels from 40 m/s to
30 m/s?
PROJECTILE MOTION – the motion of objects moving
in two dimensions under the influence of gravity
APEX - the highest point in any trajectory
ANGLE OF RELEASE - the angle, relative to the
ground, at which body is projected into the air.
COLLISION – an encounter between two objects
resulting in exchange of impulse and momentum
LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM - states that

the total momentum of two objects before the
collision is equal to the total momentum of the two
objects after the collision
In a two body collision , momentum is always

conserved
ELASTIC COLLISION – an encounter
between two bodies wherein the total kinetic energy
of the two bodies remains the same
INELASTIC COLLISION – an encounter

between two bodies wherein the kinetic energy is not
conserved due to the action of internal friction
PARTIALLY INELASTIC - collision is display

when some energy is lost, but the objects do not
stick together

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12.

Unless you're Superman, you probably don't want to try

Momentum can be defined as "mass in motion." All

Momentum depends upon 2 variables:

 Momentum is a vector, so the direction of

 An object’s momentum will change if its mass

 According to Newton’s laws, a net force

 A net force, therefore, causes a change in an

539.45 kg m/s east

20,000 kg·m/s north

If momentum changes, its

Most often mass doesn’t

Applying a force over a

LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM - states that

In a two body collision , momentum is always

INELASTIC COLLISION – an encounter

PARTIALLY INELASTIC - collision is display

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