Unit 8: Momentum
Reading
BJU book: Ch. 11 "Momentum"
AP students additional reading: Princeton Review "Linear Momentum"
Topics
Labs
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
Far below: The same principle illustrated by cannon and projectile
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:
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.
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.
Lab
"Collision Lab"
Homework
"Collision Lab"
Homework
| 8.linear_momentum_homework__problems.docx |