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Unit 8: Momentum

Reading
BJU book: Ch. 11 "Momentum"
AP students additional reading: Princeton Review "Linear Momentum"

Topics
  • Momentum = "mass in motion"
  • Typical problems involving elastic and inelastic collisions

Labs
  • ​Collision lab 
Below: "Conservation of Momentum" as illustrated by the collision of two objects at a picnic.
​Far below: The same principle illustrated by cannon and projectile
Picture
Picture

Lecture outline
Momentum is "mass x velocity" (p = mv).
Thus, it can be thought of as "mass in motion".
We use the letter "p" for momentum, because the Latin word 'petere' means "to go to", "to attack". It's where we get the words "impetuous, petulant, and impetus" 

"Impulse" is a concept Newton came up with to develop his 2nd Law of Motion. We normally write the 2nd Law as "F=ma", but Newton originally expressed it using impulse, as in "Impulse = Change in momentum = force x elapsed time". 
From that, you can also say "Impulse = Change in momentum = mass x change in velocity". 
​Here's a handy chart, below:
Picture
Collisions
Many homework problems from this chapter are dealing with "collisions". 
Rule #1:  Total momentum is conserved in all types of collisions. "Conserved" means total momentum "doesn't change". 
Rule #2:  In an "elastic" collision (perfect billiard balls), both Kinetic Energy and momentum are conserved.
Rule #3:  In an "inelastic" collision (billiard balls covered with Velcro), only momentum is conserved. Kinetic Energy is not. 
Picture
Lab
"Collision Lab"

Homework
8._linear_momentum_homework__problems_rev_2021.docx
File Size: 27 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

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