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Momentum. Yet another physics mystery explained. Momentum defined. Momentum = mass X velocity Symbol for momentum = “p” Symbol for mass= “m” Symbol for velocity= “v” So p = mv. Let’s think about momentum. Momentum is made up of 2 quantities: mass and velocity.
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Momentum Yet another physics mystery explained
Momentum defined • Momentum = mass X velocity • Symbol for momentum = “p” • Symbol for mass= “m” • Symbol for velocity= “v” • So p = mv
Let’s think about momentum • Momentum is made up of 2 quantities: mass and velocity. • They multiply together to give the momentum. • Let’s see if we can rank some situations in order of increasing momenta (“momenta” is the plural of “momentum”).
Ranking Momenta • A fast flying bee • The earth in orbit around the sun • A parked garbage truck • A slowly flying bee • Your grandmother driving down the street in her 1959 Edsel • An oil tanker sailing the seven seas. • Tony Hawk grinding on a rail
Impulse • If the momentum of an object changes, that means that at least one of these quantities changes • Its mass • Its velocity • Usually, mass doesn’t change, so it’s most of the time it is the velocity that does • Recall that Δv/Δt = acceleration
Impulse • What provides this acceleration? • FORCE • Let’s say you provide a certain force for a short period of time. You will produce a certain change in momentum. • What if you provide that same force for longer? You should produce a greater change in momentum.
Impulse • Example we all know and love: Gravity • If we let something free fall under gravity (no air resistance) for 3 sec, it’s change in momentum is less than if we let it free fall for 6 seconds.
Impulse defined • We define “impulse” as: Force X the length of time it is applied. • Impulse = Ft • Impulse is also equal to the change in momentum, so: Ft = mv
So what does this mean? • Let’s think about 2 situations: • Situation 1: pushing someone in a rolling chair • If you push on them with a certain force for two different times, the longer time will result in a greater change in momentum • So if the chair was at rest to begin with, it will end up going faster at the end for the longer time the force was applied
So what does this mean? • Situation 2: crashing your 1,000 kg car • Let’s say you are driving along at 45 m/s (about 96 mph) and you crash into one of two objects: a solid wall or a series of water-filled plastic bins (like they have on the highway) • If your car goes from 45 m/s to 0 m/s, you have a change in momentum of: • P = mv, so momentum = (1000kg)(45m/s) = 45,000 kg•m/s
Which would you rather? • Recall that impulse = change in momentum, so Ft = mv = 45,000 kg•m/s • So, Force X time = 45,000 kg•m/s • Now, would you rather have that force spread out over a long time, or over a short time?
Compare stopping times • Change in momentum is 45,000 kg•m/s • For a stopping time of 5 sec (slamming on your brakes): (F)(5 sec) = 45,000 kg•m/s • So F = 9,000 N • For a stopping time of 1.5 sec (smashing into the plastic water bins): (F)(1.5 sec) = 45,000 kg•m/s • So F = 30,000 N • For a stopping time of 0.2 sec (smashing into the concrete wall): (F)(0.2 sec) = 45,000 kg•m/s • So F = 225,000 N
Let’s look at those numbers more closely… • Remember we have a 1,000 kg car and F = ma • If F = 9000N, then accel = 9 m/s (just under acceleration due to gravity) • If F = 30,000N, then accel = 30 m/s (just over 3X acceleration due to gravity) • If F = 225,000N, then accel = 225 m/s (about 23X the acceleration due to gravity) • So, which is the most survivable?
Bouncing • Show of hands: When an object bounces upon landing, is the impulse greater or smaller than when it just sticks? • Support your answer.
Bouncing: the actual answer • A greater impulse is needed to make an object bounce than to land and stick. • Let’s do math: • If a 5 kg object goes from 5 m/s to zero m/s, its impulse is (5kg)(0 m/s – 5 m/s) = -25 kg m/s • If a 5kg object bounces up at 5 m/s instead of staying at zero, then impulse is (5kg)(-5m/s – 5m/s) = -50 kg m/s • In other words, going from V to –V makes the impulse twice as large as going from V to zero
Conservation of momentum • In general, momentum is conserved • This means that the momentum at the beginning is the same as the momentum at the end • I.e. momentum is not created or destroyed • Remember, symbol for momentum is ‘p’ • So PI = ‘initial momentum’ and PF = ‘final momentum’ • Let’s look at some examples
Conservation of Momentum: Example 1 • Cannon and cannonball • What is momentum before cannon is fired (PI)? • Zero • So what does final momentum (PF) have to be if momentum is conserved? • Zero http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/physics/chapter9section3.rhtml
Conservation of Momentum: Example 1 • Let’s say that the cannon has a mass of 1000 kg and Cannonball has a mass of 10 kg • So total PI = PI of ball + PI of cannon • PI of ball = (10kg)(0m/s) = 0 kg m/s • PI of cannon = (1000kg)(0m/s) = 0 kg m/s
Conservation of Momentum: Example 1 • Now let’s say that the cannonball moves to the right at 75 m/s. How fast does the cannon move to the left to conserve momentum? • PI = PF • So PF must equal zero
Conservation of Momentum: Example 1 • PF must equal zero • Total PF = PF of ball + PF of cannon • Remember, moving to the right = positive velocity • Moving to the left = negative velocity
Conservation of Momentum: Example 1 • PF = 0, so • (10kg)(75 m/s) + (1000kg)(Vcannon) = 0 • So -Vcannon= (10kg)(75m/s) / (1000kg) • Vcannon = -0.75 m/s • If ball moves to the right, cannon moves to the left, so Vcannonshould be negative, which it is
Conservation of Momentum: Example 2 • Newton’s cradle (or “Executive ball clicker” or, more crassly, “Newton’s Balls”) • How does it work? • If one ball is used, how many come up on the other side? • If two are used…?
Collisions (now the REALLY fun part) • In the absence of external forces, a collision obeys the law of conservation of momentum • I.E., the total momentum AFTER the collision is the same as the total momentum BEFORE the collision • There are two kinds of collisions: • Elastic • Inelastic
Collisions Continued (how alliterative…) • Elastic Collision: a collision in which no energy is lost • In the real world, how is energy lost in a collision? • Sound is generated • Heat is generated • Objects are deformed • In a perfectly elastic collision, we pretend that these things don’t happen. In the real world this is almost never true, but we can make approximations and pretend.
More collisions • Inelastic collision: a collision in which energy is NOT conserved (so there is sound/heat/deformation/screaming) • Even in an inelastic collision, MOMENTUM IS STILL CONSERVED • Completely inelastic collision: a collision in which the two objects stick together • Examples: • Train cars coupling • Throwing a lump of clay at a student and having it stick to their head
Sample problem 1 for some lucky student to solve • Pool ball A (mass 0.1kg) is moving to the right at 2 m/s and hits pool ball B (same mass), which is initially at rest. If pool ball B moves on to the right at 2 m/s, what is the final velocity of pool ball A? • Set up the problem: PIA + PIB = PFA + PFB • (0.1kg)(2m/s) + 0 = (0.1kg)(VFA) + (0.1kg)(2m/s) • 0.2 kg m/s = 0.2 kg m/s + (0.1kg)(VFA) • So VFA = 0 m/s
Sample problem 2 for some lucky student to solve • A lump of red clay (1 kg) is moving at 3 m/s to the right and strikes (and sticks to) a lump of blue clay (1kg) moving 3 m/s to the left. What is the final velocity of the system? • Total PI = Total PF • (1kg)(3m/s) + (1kg)(-3m/s) = (1kg + 1kg)(VF) • 3 kg m/s – 3 kg m/s = 0 kg m/s • So 0 kg m/s = (2kg)(VF), so VF = 0 m/s
Sample problem 3 for some lucky student to solve • A railroad car full of Lady Gaga CD’s (mass 10,000 kg) is moving at 5 m/s and then collides and couples with a railroad car full of Lil’ Wayne CD’s (mass 10,000kg), which is initially at rest. What is the final momentum of the system? What is the final velocity of the system? • Total PI = Total PF , so PF = (10,000kg)(5m/s) = 50,000 kg m/s • (10,000kg)(5m/s) + 0 = (20,000kg)(PF) • (50,000 kg m/s) / (20,000kg) = 2.5 m/s = PF
Sample problem 4 for some lucky student to solve • Car A (mass 1000 kg) slides to the right on frictionless ice at 12 m/s and hits car B (mass 1200 kg), initially at rest. After the collision, car A moves to right at 3 m/s. How fast does car B move? • (1000kg)(12 m/s) + 0 = (1000kg)(3m/s) + (1200kg)(VFB) • 12,000 kg m/s = 3000 kg m/s + (1200kg)(VFB) • 9000 kg m/s = (1200kg)(VFB) • (9000 kg m/s) / (1200kg) = 7.5 m/s