MOMENTUM So the magnitude of the resultant force acting on a

body is equal to the product of mass of the body and

Definition : the acceleration produced. Direction of the force is
Momentum of a particle may be defined as the quantity same as that of the acceleration.
of motion possessed by it and it is measured by the
product of mass of the particle and its velocity.
UNITS OF FORCE
Momentum is a vector quantity and it is represented

by p (a) In C.G.S. System :

   F = ma  gm × cm/s2 = Dyne
 p mv
Definition of one dyne :
Unit of momentum :
If m = 1 gm, a = 1 cm/s2, then F = 1 dyne.
(In C.G.S. system)  p = mv  gram × cm/s = dyne × s
When a force is applied on a body of mass 1 gram and
(In M.K.S. system)  p = mv  kg × m/s = Newton × s
the acceleration produced in the body is 1 cm/s2, then
the force acting on the body will be one dyne.
4. A ball of mass 100 gm. is moving with a velocity of
15 m/s. Calculate the momentum associated with the (b) In S.I. System :
ball.
F = ma  kg × m/s2 = Newton
Sol .
Definition of one Newton :
100
Mass of the ball = 100 gm. = kg. If m = 1 kg and a = 1 m/s2 then by, F = ma
1000
F = 1 × 1 = 1 kg × m/s2 = 1 N.
= 0.1 kg.
Velocity of the ball = 15 m/s If a force is applied on a body of mass 1 kg and
So, momentum = mass of the ball × velocity of acceleration produced in the body is 1 m/s2, then the
the ball force acting on the body will be one Newton.
= 0.1 kg. × 15 m/s
(c) Kilogram Force (kgf) :
= 1.5 kg. m/s
Kilogram force (kgf) or Kilogram weight (kg. wt.) is force
NEWTON’S SECOND LAW OF MOTION with which a mass of 1 kg is attracted by the
earth towards its centre.
1kgwt = 1kgf = 9.8 N
The rate of change of momentum of a body is directly
proportional to the applied unbalanced forces i.e. Rate (d) Gram Force (gf) :
of change of momentum  Force applied Gram force or gram weight is the force with which a
mass of 1 gram is attracted by the earth towards
Let a body is moving with initial velocity u and after applying its centre.
a force F on it, its velocity becomes v in time t. 1gwt = 1gf = 981 dyne
Initial momentum of the body p1 = mu
Final momentum of the body p2 = mv Abou both the units are called gravitational unit of force.
Change in momentum in time t is mv – mu Relation between Newton and dyne.
We know :
mv – mu
So rate of change of momentum = 1 N = 1kg × 1ms-2
t or 1 N = 1000 g × 100 cms-2
or 1 N = 105 g cms-2 = 105 dyne
mv – mu  1 N = 105 dyne
But according to Newton’s second law, F
t
5. A force of 20N acting on a mass m1 produces an
m( v – u) v–u
or F Here, = a (acceleration) acceleration of 4 ms–2. The same force is applied on
t t mass m2 then the acceleration produced is 0.5 ms–2.
So Fma What acceleration would the same force produce, when
both masses are tied together ?
or F = kma (Here k is proportionality constant.
Sol. For mass m1: F = 20N, a = 4 ms–2
If 1N force is applied on a body of mass 1 kg and the
F 20
acceleration produced in the body is 1 m/s 2, then then m1 = = = 5 kg
1 = k × 1 × 1 or k = 1 a 4
For mass m2 : F = 20N, a = 0.5 ms–2
Hence, F = ma

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