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Physics LibreTexts

9.S: Linear Momentum and Collisions (Summary)

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Key Terms

center of mass weighted average position of the mass
closed system system for which the mass is constant and the net external force on the system is zero
elastic collision that conserves kinetic energy
explosion single object breaks up into multiple objects; kinetic energy is not conserved in explosions
external force force applied to an extended object that changes the momentum of the extended object as a whole
impulse effect of applying a force on a system for a time interval; this time interval is usually small, but does not have to be
impulse-momentum theorem change of momentum of a system is equal to the impulse applied to the system
inelastic collision that does not conserve kinetic energy
internal force force that the simple particles that make up an extended object exert on each other. Internal forces can be attractive or repulsive
Law of Conservation of Momentum total momentum of a closed system cannot change
linear mass density λ, expressed as the number of kilograms of material per meter
momentum measure of the quantity of motion that an object has; it takes into account both how fast the object is moving, and its mass; specifically, it is the product of mass and velocity; it is a vector quantity
perfectly inelastic collision after which all objects are motionless, the final kinetic energy is zero, and the loss of kinetic energy is a maximum
rocket equation derived by the Soviet physicist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in 1897, it gives us the change of velocity that the rocket obtains from burning a mass of fuel that decreases the total rocket mass from mi down to m
system object or collection of objects whose motion is currently under investigation; however, your system is defined at the start of the problem, you must keep that definition for the entire problem

Key Equations

Definition of momentum p=mv
Impulse JtftiF(t)dtorJ=FaveΔt
Impulse-momentum theorem J=Δp
Average force from momentum F=ΔpΔt
Instantaneous force from momentum (Newton’s second law) F(t)=dpdt
Conservation of momentum dp1dt+dp2dt=0orp1+p2=constant
Generalized conservation of momentum Nj=1pj=constant
Conservation of momentum in two dimensions

pf,x=p1,i,x+p2,i,x

pf,y=p1,i,y+p2,i,y

External forces Fext=Nj=1dpjdt
Newton’s second law for an extended object F=dpCMdt
Acceleration of the center of mass aCM=d2dt2(1MNj=1mjrj)=1MNj=1mjaj
Position of the center of mass for a system of particles rCMNj=1mjrj
Velocity of the center of mass vCM=ddt(1MNj=1mjrj)=1MNj=1mjvj
Position of the center of mass of a continuous object rCM1Mrdm
Rocket equation Δv=uln(mim)

Summary

9.1 Linear Momentum

  • The motion of an object depends on its mass as well as its velocity. Momentum is a concept that describes this. It is a useful and powerful concept, both computationally and theoretically. The SI unit for momentum is kg • m/s.

9.2 Impulse and Collisions

  • When a force is applied on an object for some amount of time, the object experiences an impulse.
  • This impulse is equal to the object’s change of momentum.
  • Newton’s second law in terms of momentum states that the net force applied to a system equals the rate of change of the momentum that the force causes.

9.3 Conservation of Linear Momentum

  • The law of conservation of momentum says that the momentum of a closed system is constant in time (conserved).
  • A closed (or isolated) system is defined to be one for which the mass remains constant, and the net external force is zero.
  • The total momentum of a system is conserved only when the system is closed.

9.4 Types of Collisions

  • An elastic collision is one that conserves kinetic energy.
  • An inelastic collision does not conserve kinetic energy.
  • Momentum is conserved regardless of whether or not kinetic energy is conserved.
  • Analysis of kinetic energy changes and conservation of momentum together allow the final velocities to be calculated in terms of initial velocities and masses in one-dimensional, two-body collisions.

9.5 Collisions in Multiple Dimensions

  • The approach to two-dimensional collisions is to choose a convenient coordinate system and break the motion into components along perpendicular axes.
  • Momentum is conserved in both directions simultaneously and independently.
  • The Pythagorean theorem gives the magnitude of the momentum vector using the x- and y-components, calculated using conservation of momentum in each direction.

9.6 Center of Mass

  • An extended object (made up of many objects) has a defined position vector called the center of mass.
  • The center of mass can be thought of, loosely, as the average location of the total mass of the object.
  • The center of mass of an object traces out the trajectory dictated by Newton’s second law, due to the net external force.
  • The internal forces within an extended object cannot alter the momentum of the extended object as a whole.

9.7 Rocket Propulsion

  • A rocket is an example of conservation of momentum where the mass of the system is not constant, since the rocket ejects fuel to provide thrust.
  • The rocket equation gives us the change of velocity that the rocket obtains from burning a mass of fuel that decreases the total rocket mass.

This page titled 9.S: Linear Momentum and Collisions (Summary) is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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