Lecture 27: Conservation of Momentum

Quiz 3, Thursday and Friday

The third quiz will be On Thursday in your discussion session, group quiz On Friday at 8.00am, individual quiz

before
FEXT = dP dt dP =0 dt

Last names beginning A-R in room 150 Last names beginning S-Z in room 166

FEXT = 0

m1 p = mv v

m2

The quiz will be particularly on Fishbane Chapters 6,7 but anything we have done in the course up to this week may come up. There will be one long problem in the group quiz, two long problems and 5 multiple choice problems in the individual One question will be very similar to one of the questions you have done for homework. You can bring into the quiz one side of normal sized paper with hand-written notes and formulae.
Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 2

Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 1

Recap: Linear Momentum

For a single particle, the momentum p is defined as: p = mv v

Momentum Conservation
FEXT = dP dt
dP =0 dt
FEXT = 0

dv d Newtons 2nd Law: F = ma = m = ( mv ) dt dt

For a system
P=

dp F = dt

i =1

pi = m i v i
i =1

So

P = MVCM

Change in p = sum of external forces

dV dP = M CM = MACM = m i ai = Fi ,net dt dt i i

Newtons 2nd Law for systems

UIUC

FNET,EXT =

dP = MACM dt

If there are no external forces momentum is conserved This is a component (vector) equation. We can apply it to any direction in which there is no external force applied. We often have momentum conservation even when kinetic + potential energy is not conserved. If there are no external forces the center of mass motion does not change.

Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 3

Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 4

ICQ: Center of Mass Motion

A man has the same mass as his 20 foot long canoe. Initially he stands in the center of the motionless canoe, a distance of 20 feet from shore. Next he walks toward the shore until he gets to the end of the canoe. What is his new distance from the shore? (Assume no horizontal forces on the canoe by the water). 20 ft before 20 ft ? ft
UIUC

ICQ: Center of Mass Motion

A man has the same mass as his 20 foot long canoe. Initially he stands in the center of the motionless canoe, a distance of 20 feet from shore. Next he walks toward the shore until he gets to the end of the canoe. What is his new distance from the shore? (Assume no horizontal forces on the canoe by the water). 20 ft before 20 ft ? ft
UIUC

a) 10 ft b) 15 ft c) 16.7 ft d) 20 ft after
Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 5

(a) 10 ft (b) 15 ft (c) 16.7 ft (d) 20 ft after

Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 6

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ICQ: Center of Mass Motion Solution

Since the man and the canoe have the same mass, the CM of the man-canoe system will always be halfway between the CM of the man and the CM of the canoe. Initially the CM of the system is 20 ft from shore.

ICQ: Center of Mass Motion Solution

Since there is no force acting on the canoe in the x-direction, the CM of the system cant move, as the man walks 10 feet to the left. Therefore, the man ends up 5 ft to the left of the system CM, and the center of the canoe ends up 5 ft to the right. He ends up moving 5 ft toward the shore (15 ft away).

X X 20 ft CM of system
Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 7

15 ft x 20 ft

10 ft X 5 ft x

CM of system
Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 8

Elastic vs. Inelastic Collisions

A collision is said to be elastic when kinetic energy as well as momentum is conserved before and after the collision. Kbefore = Kafter Carts colliding with a spring in between them , billiard balls, etc. vi

Inelastic collision in 1-D: Example 1 1A block of mass M is initially at rest on a frictionless horizontal surface. A bullet of mass m is fired at the block with a muzzle velocity (speed) v. The bullet lodges in the block, and the block ends up with a speed V. What is the initial speed of the bullet v, in terms of m, M, and V :? What is the initial energy of the system? What is the final energy of the system? Is kinetic energy conserved? x v V before after
Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 10

A collision is said to be inelastic when kinetic energy is not conserved before and after the collision, but momentum is conserved. Kbefore Kafter Car crashes, collisions where objects stick together, etc.

Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 9

Example 1...
Consider the bullet & block as a system. After the bullet is fired, there are no external forces acting on the system in the x-direction. Momentum is conserved in the x direction! Px, i = Px, f mv = (M+m)V
M + m v = V m

M + m v = V m

Example 1...
2

Now consider the kinetic energy of the system before and after: Before:

KB =
After:

1 1 M +m 2 1M +m 2 mv 2 = m V = ( M + m )V 2 2 m 2 m

KA =
So x

1 ( M + m )V 2 2

v V initial final
Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 11

m KA = KB M +m

Kinetic energy is NOT conserved! (the bullet did work) We COULD NOT use conservation of energy but we COULD use conservation of momentum to solve the problem
Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 12

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Inelastic Collision in 1-D: Example 2 1M m ice (no friction)

Example 2...
Use conservation of momentum to find v after the collision. Before the collision: After the collision:
Pf = ( M + m )v
Pi = Pf

v=0 M+m

Pi = M V + m ( 0 )

Conservation of momentum:

M V = ( M + m )v

v=

M V (M + m)

vector equation

v=?
Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 13 Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 14

v =

M V (M + m)

Example 2...

Inelastic collision in 2-D 2Consider a collision in 2-D (cars crashing at a slippery intersection...no friction). V m1 + m2 m2 v2 after

Now consider the K.E. of the system before and after: Before:

K BUS =
After:

1 1 M +m 2 1 M +m 2 MV 2 = M v = ( M + m )v 2 2 M 2 M

v1

KA =
So

1 (M + m )v 2 2
Kinetic energy is NOT conserved in an inelastic collision!

m1

M KA = KBUS M + m

before

Note that as the bus is much heavier than the car, not much KE is lost
Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 15 Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 16

Inelastic collision in 2-D... 2There are no net external forces acting. Use momentum conservation for both components.
Px ,i = Px ,f

Inelastic collision in 2-D... 2So we know all about the motion after the collision!

m1v1 = (m1 + m 2 )V x

Vx =

(m1 + m 2 )

m1

v1

V = (Vx,Vy) Vx

Vx =

(m1 + m 2 )

m1

v1

Vy
Vy =

Py ,i = Py ,f

m 2 v 2 = (m1 + m 2 )V y

Vy =

(m1 + m 2 )

m2

v2

(m1 + m 2 )

m2

v2

v1 m1 m2 v2

V = (Vx,Vy) m1 + m2

tan =

Vy Vx

m2v 2 p2 = m1v1 p1

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Inelastic collision in 2-D... 2We can see the same thing using vectors:

Explosion (inelastic anti-collision) anti-

Before the explosion: P P p1 p2 p1

p2 p1

p2

After the explosion:

tan =

v1 m1 m2

v2

Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 19

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Explosion...
No external forces, so P is conserved. Initially: P = 0 Finally: P = m1v1 + m2v2 = 0 m1v1 = - m2v2 M Very inelastic: Initial KE = 0 Final KE = m1v12+ m2v22 v1 m1 m2
Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 21

ICQ: Center of Mass

A bomb explodes into 3 identical pieces. Which of the following configurations of velocities is possible? (a) 1 (b) 2 (c) both (d) neither

v m v m v2 (1) m V

v m

v m (2) m

Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 22

ICQ: Center of Mass

A bomb explodes into 3 identical pieces. Which of the following configurations of velocities is possible? (a) 1 (b) 2 (c) both (d) neither

ICQ:Center of Mass
No external forces, so P must be conserved. Initially: P = 0 In explosion (1) there is nothing to balance the upward momentum of the top piece so Pfinal 0.

v m v m (1) m
V

v m v m v m (2)
Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 23

mv

mv mv

v m (1) m

Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 24

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ICQ:Center of Mass
No external forces, so P must be conserved. All the momenta cancel out. Pfinal = 0.

ICQ: Momentum Conservation

Two balls of equal mass are thrown horizontally with the same initial velocity. They hit identical stationary boxes resting on a frictionless horizontal surface. The ball hitting box 1 bounces back, while the ball hitting box 2 gets stuck. Which box ends up moving faster? (a) Box 1 (b) Box 2 (c) same

v m

mv mv mv

v m (2) m

v 1
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Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 26

ICQ: Momentum Conservation

Two balls of equal mass are thrown horizontally with the same initial velocity. They hit identical stationary boxes resting on a frictionless horizontal surface. The ball hitting box 1 bounces back, while the ball hitting box 2 gets stuck. Which box ends up moving faster? (a) Box 1 (b) Box 2 (c) same

ICQ: Momentum Conservation: Solution

Since the total external force in the x-direction is zero, momentum is conserved along the x-axis. In both cases the initial momentum is the same (mv of ball). In case 1 the ball has negative momentum after the collision, hence the box must have more positive momentum if the total is to be conserved. The speed of the box in case 1 is biggest!

x 1 2 1 V1 2 V2

Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 27

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ICQ:Momentum Conservation Solution

mvinit = MV1 - mvfin V1 = (mvinit + mvfin) / M mvinit = (M+m)V2 V2 = mvinit / (M+m)

Homework
Read Chapter 8 Textbook problems Chapter 8: # 7,32,40,66

V1 numerator is bigger and its denominator is smaller than that of V2. V1 > V2 1 V1 2 V2 x

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Physics 1301: Lecture 27, Pg 30

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