Chapter 9

Center of Mass and Linear Momentum

Goals for Chapter 9
To learn the definition of the center of mass of a system and what determines
how it moves
To learn the meaning of the momentum of a particle and how an impulse causes
it to change
To learn how to use the conservation of momentum
To learn how to solve problems involving collisions
Introduction
In manyy situations, such as a bullet hitting
g a carrot, we cannot use Newtons second
law to solve problems because we know very little about the complicated forces
involved.
In this chapter, we shall introduce momentum and impulse,
and the conservation of momentum, to solve such problems.

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(9-1) Center of Mass
We define the center of mass (com) of a system of particles in order to predict the
possible motion of the system
system.
It is easy to find the center of mass of a
homogeneous symmetric object, as shown
in the figure to the right

For asymmetric (non symmetric) object, the center

of mass of the object (baseball bat) moves as
though all the mass were concentrated there.

The center of mass of a system

s stem of particles is the point that moves
mo es as tho
though
gh
1- all of the systems mass were concentrated there.
2- all external forces were applied there. y
(x 2 , y 2 )
(x1 , y1 )
If the system consists of several particles with masses m1 m2
m1 at (x1,y1), m2 at (x2,y2), and so on. x
(x 3 , y3 )
We define the coordinates of the center of mass of the system as: m3

m x m 2 x 2 .. 1 n
1 n
1 n
x com 1 1
M

M
m x
i 1
i i , y com
M
m y i i and z com
M
m z i i
i 1 i 1
n

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M mi , 2
i 1

with position vector: rcom x com i y com j z com k

1 n


M
m i ri
i 1

For a solid object (continuous distribution of mass):

1 1
x com
M x dm or: x com
V x dV
1 1
y com
M y dm or: y com
V y dV
1 1
z com
M z dm or: z com
V z dV

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Example (9-1): Three particles of masses m1 = 1.2 kg, m2 = m3
2.5 kg, and m3 = 3.4 kg form an equilateral triangle of edge
length a = 140 cm as shown.
shown 100
Where is the center of mass of this system?
140
Solution:
Particle Mass (kg) x (cm) y (cm)
1 1.2 0 0
m1 140
2 25
2.5 140 0 m2

3 3.4 70 121

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
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Exercise: What are (a) the x coordinate and (b) the y coordinate L 20 cm
of the center of mass for the uniform plate shown if L = 20 cm?
..
..
..
(9-2) Newtons Second Law for a System of Particles
The motion
Th ti off the
th center
t off mass off any system
t off particles
ti l isi governed
d by
b NNewtons
t
second law,
Fnet M a com
where:

Fnet Is the net force of all the external forces

M Is the total mass of the system

a com Is the acceleration of com
In terms of components:

Fnet , x M a com , x Fnet , y M a com , y Fnet , z M a com , z

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 F3
Example (9-2): For the system shown in example (9-1), if m3
F1=4.0 N, F2= 8.0 N and F3= 15 N. 30o
What is the acceleration of the center of mass of the system 100
(magnitude and direction)?
140
Solution:
F
Force Di
Direction
ti x-comp y- comp
F1
F1=4.0 1=90o 0.0 4.0
m1
F2=8.0
8.0 2=180
180o -8.0
8.0 0.0 140 F2 m2
F3=15 3=30o 13 7.5
Fnet,x 5.0 Fnet, y 11.5
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
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(9-3) Linear Momentum and Impulse

p
The Linear Momentum ( ) of an object is defined as: The product of the
objects
object s mass and velocity.
velocity

p = mv
The linear momentum is a vector quantity in the same direction of v.
The SI units of momentum are kg.m/s.
In terms of components:
px = m v x , py = m v y , pz = m v z
dv
From Newtons second law; F = ma = m
dt
F constant
For t t mass (at
( t low
l speed):
d)

d dp
F = ddt (mv ) = dt
d
....... (Newton's second law in terms of momentum)

The impulse of the net force (J ), is defined as: The product of the net force
and the time interval J


F (t - t ) = F t
2 1
If the net force ( )
F is constant, then;
p p 2 - p 1
F = t = t - t F (t 2 - t1 ) = p 2 - p1
2 1

J = p 2 - p1 .......... (impulse - momentum theorem)

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The change in momentum of a particle during a time interval equals the
impulse of the net force that acts on the particle during that interval.

Th direction
The di ti off the
th impulse
i l (J ) iis th
the same as th
the di
direction
ti off the
th nett force.
f
The SI units of the impulse are kg.m/s N.s
On a graph of (Fx versus time),
time) the impulse is
equal to the area under the curve, as shown in
the figure to the right.

If the net force ( )
F is not constant;
t2

J =
t1
F d t ....... (g en eral d efin itio n o f im p u lse)

or we can use the average net force ( av ):
F

J Fav (t 2 - t1 )
In terms of components:

J x = Fav,x (t 2 - t1 ) = p 2x - p1x = mv 2x - mv1x

J y = Fav,y (t 2 - t1 ) = p 2y - p1y = mv 2y - mv1y

J z = Fav,z (t 2 - t1 ) = p 2z - p1z = mv 2z - mv1z

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Example (9-3): You throw a ball with a mass of 0.40 kg against a wall. It hits
the wall horizontally by a velocity of 15.0 m/s and rebounds by 10.0 m/s.
a- Find
Fi d the
th impulse
i l off the
th nett force
f on the
th wall.
ll
b- Find the average force that the wall exerts on the ball, if the contact time
is 0.010 s.
v1=-15 m/s

v2= 10 m/s

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Example (9-4): A soccer ball has a mass of 0.40 kg. Initially, it moving to the left at 20
m/s then it is kicked and given a velocity of 30.0 m/s at 45o upward and to the right.
a- Find its momentum before kicked
a kicked.
b- Find px and py of the ball after kicked.
c- What is the impulse of the net force?
d- Find the average net force, assuming t = 0.010 s
d

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(9-4) Conservation of Linear Momentum
The forces that the particles of the system exert on each other are called
internal forces
forces.
The forces that exerted on any part of the system by any object outside the
system are called external forces.
If there are NO external forces acting on a system then this system is
isolated system.
For the system of two particles that interact with each other:

FA on B = - FB on A ....... (Newton's third law)

FA on B + FB on A = 0

dp B dp A d(p B + p A ) dp t
+ = = 0 p t = constant
dt dt dt dt
Note : pt = constant,
constant because the derivative is zero
If the vector sum of the external forces on a system is zero, the
total momentum of the system is constant (conserved).

p total = p1 + p 2 + ..... = constant

or; p1i + p 2i + ... = p1f + p 2f + ...
i terms
in t off components
t : p1ix + p 2ix + ... = p1fx + p 2fx + ...
p1iy + p 2iy + ... = p1fy + p 2fy + ...
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Example (9-5): A 50-kg machine is at rest on a frozen pond. The machine
fires a 0.15-kg ball horizontally with a velocity of 36.0 m/s.
a- What
Wh t is
i the
th recoilil velocity
l it off the
th machine?
hi ?
b- What are the final momentum and kinetic energy of the ball?
B f
Before

Machine + ball

After
vmf =? vbf =36 m/s

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Exercise: Block A in the figure below has mass 1.00 kg, and block B has mass
3.00 kg. The blocks are forced together, compressing a spring S between them; then
the system is released from rest on a level
level, frictionless surface
surface. If the final speed of B
is 1.20 m/s.
a- What is the final speed of block A?
d- How
d o muchuc pote
potential
ta eenergy
e gy was
as sto
stored
ed in tthe
e sp
spring?
g 1.0 kg 3.0 kg
mA mB

1 0 kg
1.0 vBf=1
1.2
2 m/s

mA mB

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(9-5) Momentum Conservation and Collisions
There are two types of collisions:
I- Elastic Collision:
In elastic collisions both kinetic energy and linear momentum are conserved.
so, the final and initial velocities of the colliding objects must satisfy two conditions:
1- The linear momentum is conserved:

m Av A1 m Bv B1 = m Av A2 m Bv B2
2- The kinetic energy
gy is conserved:
1 1 1 1
m Av A1 m Bv B1 m Av A2 m Bv B2 2
2 2 2

2 2 2 2
II- Inelastic Collision:
In an inelastic collision only linear momentum is conserved. Kinetic energy is not
conserved because as the objects collide they suffer energy losses in the form of heat
dissipation. so, this collision satisfy the following two conditions:
1- The linear momentum is conserved:

m Av A1 m Bv B1 = m Av A2 m Bv B2
2- The kinetic energy is not conserved:
1 1 1 1
m Av A1 m Bv B1 m Av A2 m Bv B2 2
2 2 2

2 2 2 2
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For completely (perfectly) inelastic collision, the two objects stick together after
the collision and, effectively, move as a single object afterwards.

m Av A1 m Bv B1 = (m
( A mB )v 2
1 1 1
and m Av A12 m Bv B12 (m A + m B ) v 2 2
2 2 2
Example (9-6): Two gliders move toward each other on a frictionless track, as shown.
If the collision is elastic, what are the velocities of m1 and m2 after the collision?

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Example (9-7): A bullet of mass m = 5.00 g is fired into a block of wood with mass M =
1.20 kg. After the impact of the bullet, the block swings up to maximum height y=5.0 cm
a Find the speed of the block after collision.
a- collision
b- Find the speed of the bullet before collision.
c- Compare the initial and final kinetic energies of the system

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