Momentum and Collisions

1. Momentum and Collisions

2. Conservation of Momentum

3. Momentum is Conserved • So far we only have considered the momentum of only one object at a time. • Now we will look at two or more objects interacting with each other. • Picture this. . . • You are playing pool. You strike the cue ball, it hits the 8 ball. The 8 ball had no momentum before they collided. • During the collision the cue ball loses momentum and the 8 ball gains momentum. • The momentum the cue ball loses is the same amount that the 8 ball gained.

4. Momentum is Conserved • The Law of Conservation of Momentum: The total momentum of all objects interacting with one another remains constant, unless an external force acts on them m1v1,i+ m2v2,i = m1v1,f + m2v2,f total initial momentum = total final momentum

5. Momentum is Conserved • Go back to the pool table example. The cue ball and the 8 ball do not have a constant momentum, but the total momentum is constant.

6. Momentum is Conserved • Picture this . . . • Two people on skates facing one another. They push away from one another. Initially, they are both at rest with a momentum of 0. When they push away, they move in opposite directions with equal but opposite momentum, so that the total momentum is 0.

7. Example • A 76 kg boater, initially at rest in a stationary 45 kg boat, steps out of the boat and onto the dock. If the boater moves out of the boat with a velocity of 2.5 m/s to the right, what is the final velocity of the boat?

8. Solution • Given: m1 = 76 kg m2 = 45 kg v1,i = 0 v2,i = 0 v1,f = 2.5 m/s to the right Unknown: v2,f = ?

9. Solution • Equation: m1v1,i + m2v2,i = m1v1,f + m2v2,f

10. Solution • Because the boater and the boat are initially at rest, the total initial momentum of the system is equal to zero. Therefore, the final momentum of the system must also be equal to zero. m1v1,f + m2v2,f = 0 Rearrange the equation to solve for the final velocity of the boat.

11. Solution • Substitute the values into the equation and solve:

12. Solution • The negative sign for v2,f indicates that the boat is moving to the left, in the direction opposite the motion of the boater. Therefore, v2,f= 4.2 m/s to the left

13. Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

14. Collisions • Inelastic collision: Momentum is always conserved, kinetic energy is not. • Perfectly inelastic collision • A collision in which two objects stick together after colliding and move together as one mass is called a perfectly inelastic collision. • Example: The collision between two football players during a tackle. • Conservation of momentum for a perfectly inelastic collision: m1v1,i + m2v2,i = (m1 + m2)vf total initial momentum = total final momentum

15. Example • A 1850 kg luxury sedan stopped at a traffic light is struck from behind by a compact car with a mass of 975 kg. The two cars become entangled as a result of the collision. If the compact car was moving with a velocity of 22.0 m/s to the north before the collision, what is the velocity of the entangled mass after the collision? Given: m1 = 1850 kg m2 = 975 kg v1,i = 0 m/s v2,i = 22.0 m/s north Unknown: vf

16. Solution • Choose your equation: m1v1,i + m2v2,i = (m1 + m2)vf vf =m1v1,i + m2v2,i (m1 + m2) vf =(1850 kg)(0 m/s) + (975 kg)(22.0 m/s) (1850 kg + 975 kg) vf =7.59 m/s north

17. Elastic Collisions • A collision in which the total momentum and the total kinetic energy are conserved is called an elastic collision. • Elastic means that after a collision the objects remain separated. (bounce) • Two objects collide and return to their original shapes with no loss of total kinetic energy. After the collision the two objects move separately.

18. Real Collisions • Most collisions are not perfectly inelastic (they don’t stick together and move as one) • Most collisions are not elastic. • Even nearly elastic collisions result in some decrease of kinetic energy. • A football deforms when kicked • A sound is produced (sound signifies a decrease in kinetic energy)

19. For all practical purposes… • We will consider all collisions in which objects do not stick together to be perfectly elastic collisions. • Therefore, total momentum and total kinetic energy will stay the same before and after the collision.