M

OMENTUM!

All objects have MASS

Consider the following;
A flying aeroplane

A stationary car

Has MOMENTUM

Has no
MOMENTUM

Any moving object has MOMENTUM

Momentum Defined

The product of mass and

velocity
p = momentum
m = mass

v = velocity

momentum = mass x velocity

p = mv

Example 1
Calculate the momentum of
the bus of mass of 9 000 kg
moving with velocity of 16
ms-1.
Momentum : mass x velocity

Momentum : 9 000 kg x 16 ms-1

Momentum : 144 000 kg ms-1

Example 2
Calculate the momentum of a
car of mass of 1 800 kg moving
with velocity of 80 ms-1.

Momentum : mass x velocity

Momentum : 1 800 kg x 80 ms-1
Momentum : 144 000 kg ms-1

Something big and slow could have the

same momentum as something small
and fast.

MOMENTUM in collision
Before

u1

u2

m1

m2

m1 x u1
During
collision

v1
After

Total Momentum
Before collision

m1 u1 + m2 u2

m2 x u 2
2

v2

m1

m2

m1 v1

m2 v2

Total Momentum
After collision

m1 v1 + m2 v2

MOMENTUM in collision
Total Momentum
Before collision

m1 u 1 + m 2 u 2

Total Momentum
After collision

m1 v1 + m2 v2

From the PRINCIPLE OF

CONSERVATION OF MOMENTUM
Total Momentum =
Before collision

Total Momentum
After collision

IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EXTERNAL FORCE, THE

TOTAL MOMENTUM OF A SYSTEM REMAINS
UNCHANGED

m1 u1 + m2 u2 = m1 v1 + m2 v2

ELASTIC COLLISION
Before

u1

u2

m1

m2

m1 x u1
During
collision

v1
After

m2 x u 2

Total Momentum
Before collision

m1 u1 + m2 u2
Total Momentum
After collision

m1 v1 + m2 v2

v2

m1

m2

The objects move

separately after the
collision

INELASTIC COLLISION
Before

u1

u2

m1

m2

m1 x u1
During
collision

m1

m1 x v

m1 u1 + m2 u2

m2 x u 2
2

Total Momentum
After collision

m1 v + m2 v

v
After

Total Momentum
Before collision

m2

m2 x v

(m1 + m2)v
Object moving
together after
collision

INELASTIC COLLISION
Object moving together after collision
Total Momentum
Before collision

m1 u1 + m2 u2

Total Momentum
After collision

m1 v + m2 v

m1 u1 + m2 u2 = (m1 + m2)v

EXPLOSION
u=0
1

Before

m1
m1 x u

m2
m2 x u

m1 u + m2 u
(m1 + m2)u
(m1 + m2)0 = 0 kgms-1

During
collision

After

Total Momentum
Before collision

Total Momentum
After collision

v1

v2

m1v1 + m1v2

m2

m1v1 + m1 (-v2)

m1

m1 x v1

m2 x v2

m1v1 - m1 v2

EXPLOSION
Object attached together before explosion but
after the explosion the object move separately at
opposite direction
Total Momentum
Before collision

(m1 + m2 )u

Total Momentum
After collision

m1 v1 + m2 v2

0 = m1v2 - m2v2

Example of explosion

Jump out of a boat

Recoil of a cannon when it fires a bullet

MASTERY PRACTICE 2.4

No. 1

mA = 500 g = 0.5 kg
uA = 2 ms-1

mB = 400 g = 0.4 kg
uB = 0 ms-1
vB = 1 ms-1

vA = 2 ms-1
Will trolley A collide with trolley B for second time?
Yes. Because velocity of trolley A is greater than trolley B as
they move along the same direction.

MASTERY PRACTICE 2.4

No. 3
mr = 5 kg
ur = 0 ms-1
vr = ? ms-1

mB = 50 g = 0.05 kg
uB = 0 ms-1
vB = 80 ms-1

vr = 8 ms-1
Why recoil velocity of a rifle is much less than the velocity
of the bullet?
Because the final momentum of the rifle is equal to the
final momentum of the bullet. This was stated by the
Principle of Conservation of momentum.

MASTERY PRACTICE 2.4

m1 = 50 kg
u1 = 0 ms-1
v1 = ? ms-1

No. 4
m2 = 60 kg
u2 = 0 ms-1
v2 =2 ms-1

vr = -2.4 ms-1
What happens to their motion when they collide?
The two boys move oppositely because the final momentum
of the heavier boy is equal to the final momentum of the
lighter boy as they move oppositely.

Application of Principle of
Conservation of momentum
THE LAUNCHING OF ROCKET

1. Fuel burns
explosively in the
combustion
chamber

2. Hot gases expelled at

high speed have a large
momentum downwards

3. Momentum of the hot = Momentum of the rocket

gases downward
forward
4. Rocket can be launched to the space

Application of Principle of
Conservation of momentum

JET
ENGINE
Air is sucked
into combustion
chamber

Air is mixed with

kerosene vapour and
burnt-produce hot
exahust gas at high
temperature

Hot gases expand

& expelled from
the back at high
speed

Momentum of hot gases = Momentum of jet

backward
forward

Application of Principle of Conservation

of momentum
BOAT

Momentum of water = Momentum of boat

backward
forward

Sample Problem 4
before
3 kg

10 m/s-1

6 m/s-1

15 kg

after
4.5 m/s-1
3 kg

15 kg