CENTRE HIGH: PHYSICS 30

UNIT 1: CONSERVATION LAWS

Lesson 7: Momentum and Impulse

E. Momentum and Impulse

Recommended Reading: Ladner pp. 37 - 38 Heath pp. 236 - 240

E. Momentum and Impulse

E1. Momentum ( p ) - momentum can be thought of as the difficulty to change an object's motion i.e. a change in speed or a change in direction

Equation:
p = mv where m = mass of object (kg) v = velocity of object (in m/s)

Units:
kg m/s

What is required for a high momentum? What does it mean to have a high momentum?

What is required for a high momentum?

Based on p = m v, to have a large momentum, an object needs: - large mass - large velocity

e.g. runaway trains avalanche

What is required for a high momentum?

Based on p = m v, to have a large momentum, an object needs: - large mass - large velocity

e.g. runaway trains avalanche

What does this mean? This means that it is really hard to change their motion i.e. To slow them down To change the direction of the motion

Note: Change in momentum

p = pf - pi = m vf - m vi = m (vf - vi) p = m v Different from p = m v

E2. Impulse - Momentum Equation

Newton's 2nd Law: Fnet = ma But a = vf - vi = v

t
So, Fnet = m v t or Fnet t = m v

Impulse - Momentum equation

Impulse

change in momentum

- thus, there are two ways to find impulse:

Impulse = F t = m v where F is the average net force on object (N) t is the time Fnet is applied to the object (s)

Units:
Ns or kgm/s

But what is impulse? How is it best understood?

Based on
F t = m v

if you apply a net force for a certain period of time (i.e. an impulse)

Based on
F t = m v

if you apply a net force for a certain period of time (i.e. an impulse)

you will change the object's momentum

Now imagine that you had a stop a fast train.

This would be a large change in momentum.

Based on Impulse = F t = m v, you need a large impulse to cause this change.

Let's consider two cases: 1. Applying a large Fnet 2. Applying a small Fnet
What would the motions look like in each case?

1. Applying a large Fnet:

Large Fnet

When the Fnet is large, it does not require a large amount of time to generate a large impulse

Large Impulse =

Huge Fnet

small time

Large Fnet

comes to rest quickly

If you apply a large net force, it only requires a short time (and thus, a short distance) to cause this change in momentum This happens if the train hits a mountain or another train.

2. Applying a small Fnet:

Small Fnet

When the Fnet is small, it requires a large amount of time to generate a large impulse

Large Impulse =

Small Fnet

Huge time

Small Fnet

a large time (distance) is required to stop it

If you apply a small force on the train, it will take a lot longer (and thus more distance) to stop it.
This happens when a train applies its brakes. It might take minutes (kilometres) for it to stop!!!

Ex. 1 A 1450 kg vehicle, travelling forward at 28.0 m/s, hits a wall and bounces backward at 17.0 m/s.
a) What is the impulse on the car (mag and dir)?

b) If this collision happened for 520 milliseconds, then the magnitude of the wall's force on the car is a.bc 10d N.
Your values of a, b, c, and d are

Solution: a) There are two ways to find impulse:

Impulse = F t = m v Since we are only given masses and velocities, we must use Impulse = m v

Solution: a)

Ref: Forward is +
vi = +28.0 m/s

vf = - 17.0 m/s

Remember, for 1-D vector questions, you must choose a positive direction (i.e. a reference system).

Impulse = F t = m v = m (vf - vi)

= (1450 kg) (-17 m/s - 28 m/s)

= - 6.53 x 104 kgm/s So, Impulse = 6.53 x 104 Ns backwards

b)

Impulse = F t
Fwall = Fnet F = Impulse t

Recall that F is actually Fnet.

So, if we wish to use the impulse-momentum equation, we must assume that Fwall = Fnet.

b)

Impulse = F t
Fwall F = Impulse t Fwall = Fnet

F = - 6.53 x 104 N s = -1.25 x 105 N 0.520 s So, Fwall = 1.25 x 105 N backwards

N.R.

Practice Problems
Try Ladner p. 39 #1 - 20

E3. Impulse (Changing Net Force)

The equation F t = m v can only be used if Fnet is constant

But what if Fnet changes?

Fnet (N)

Positive impulse (Fnet is above the axis)

t (s) Negative impulse (Fnet is below axis) Impulse = Area between the line and the axis for a F - t graph

Ex. 2 Fnet (N)

45.0

12.0

18.0

t (s)

If this force acts on a 31.0 kg object, initially at rest, then its final speed is ___________ m/s.

Your 3-digit answer is

Solution

Fnet (N)
45.0

1
12.0 Impulse = = =

2
18.0 t (s)

= Area1 + Area2 (45.0 N) (12.0 s) + 0.5 (45.0 N) (6.0 s) 540 N s + 135 N s 675 N s

Impulse = m v
= m (vf - vi) = m vf

We cancel vi , since it starts at rest (vi = 0)

Impulse = m v
= m (vf - vi) = m vf

vf = Impulse m NR. 2 1 .

= 675 kg m/s 31.0 kg

21.8 m/s

Practice Problems
Try Heath p. 240 Sample #2 p. 241 #1 d

E4. Understanding Impulse - Momentum Equation

Impulse = F t = m v

A very powerful equation for understanding motion

- we will consider two perspectives offered by this equation

Perspective 1: How to generate a large change in momentum

Have you ever wondered why:

- a baseball pitcher has to do such a big windup to

throw the fastest pitch? - a rocket continues to fire its thrusters for minutes and minutes to escape the Earth's gravity well?

Based on the impulse - momentum equation,

Impulse = F t = m v there are two ways to create a large m v (large impulse):

Based on the impulse - momentum equation,

Impulse = F t = m v there are two ways to create a large m v (large impulse):

1. Big F: Make the Fnet as large as possible

2. Big t: Apply the Fnet for the longest time possible

So, when a pitcher tries to throw the fastest pitch:

1. He applies the greatest force possible - throws "with all his might" 2. He applies the force for the longest time possible - that is why he must do the big windup

So, when a rocket must leave the gravity well of the Earth:
1. It applies the greatest force possible - it has huge rocket boosters 2. It applies the force for the longest time possible - the boosters are fired for a very long time - it has three sets of boosters, so it can last a lot longer

Perspective 2: Cushioning
Have you ever wondered why:

- we bend our knees when we jump?

- we need a landing mat when we fall from a height? - there is cushion in a running shoe?

Perspective 2: Cushioning
For cushioning, we manipulate the impulse-momentum equation, getting force by itself: F t = m v F = m v t

Notice that F has an inverse relationship with t

F 1 t Recall, this is true only if m v (i.e. impulse) remains constant Does it?

Landing speed vi = 5.0 m/s

m = 100 kg

Imagine, when you land from a height, you land with a speed of 5.0 m/s

Landing speed vi = 5.0 m/s

No bending vf = 0

m = 100 kg

Bending knees vf = 0

Whether you bend your knees or not, you come to rest i.e. vf = 0

Landing speed vi = 5.0 m/s

No bending vf = 0

m = 100 kg

Bending knees vf = 0

Impulse = m (vf - vi) = 100 kg (0 - 5.0 m/s) = - 500 kg m/s

True for both cases

If bending the knees has no effect on impulse, then what does it do?
Bending the knees increases the time to change the momentum

But what effect does this have?

Bending the knees increases the time to change the momentum

Since F has an inverse relationship with t, - if time increases, then the force on the body decreases F 1 t

A decreased force means reduced injury.

Any form of cushioning (e.g. air bags, mats, running shoes) does the same thing.
It increases the time to change the momentum, and thus, it decreases the force on the body

Ex. 3 Explain how air bags reduce injuries during car crashes.
Be sure to include: - diagrams - principles of Physics - key equations

Solution: Impulse is NOT affected by the air bag

Impulse = m v = m (vf - vi) Same mass of passenger Same vi (speed before collision) Same vf (speed after collision) Air bags do not affect the change in momentum significantly

Based on the impulse-momentum equation F = m v t

F has an inverse relationship with t (since m v stays constant)

F 1
t

Air bags increase the time to change the person's momentum

Thus, the force on the passenger is decreased (reducing injuries)

SUMMARY 1. What does it mean to have high momentum?

2. What are two ways to find impulse (constant Fnet)? 3. How do you find impulse on a Fnet - t graph?

4. Briefly, explain: a) how to create the largest change in momentum b) cushioning

SUMMARY 1. What does it mean to have high momentum? - hard to change the object's motion - the mass and velocity of object are both high
2. What are two ways to find impulse (constant Fnet)? Impulse = F t Impulse = m v

3. How do you find impulse on a Fnet - t graph? Area

4. Briefly, explain: a) how to create the largest change in momentum Max Fnet for the longest time

b) cushioning Increases the time to change the momentum Thus decreases the force (inverse relationship)