Video Lecture
Theory For Making Notes
Momentum
The linear momentum of particle is a vector quantity associated with quantity of motion. It is defined as product of mass of the particle and velocity of particle. i.e., linear momentum \overset{\to }{\mathop{P}}\, of a particle of mass m, moving with velocity \overset{\to }{\mathop{v}}\, is given by
\overset{\to }{\mathop{P}}\,\,\,=\,\,m\overset{\to }{\mathop{v}}\,
Remember that the direction of linear momentum is always taken in the direction of velocity \overset{\to }{\mathop{v}}\, of the particle. The SI unit for linear momentum is kg ms–1 and its dimension is [MLT–1].
Newton’s second law of motion :
Through Newton’s second law we can relate linear momentum of particle and net force acting on it. The time rate of charge of linear momentum is equal to the resultant external force acting on the particle.
Hence \overset{\to }{\mathop{F}}\,\,\,=\,\,\frac{{d\overset{\to }{\mathop{P}}\,}}{{dt}}
Also remember that the direction of change in momentum \,d\overset{\to }{\mathop{P}}\, is always same as that of the net external force \overset{\to }{\mathop{F}}\, acting on the body.
Impulse of force
As we know that the force is related to momentum as
\overset{\to }{\mathop{F}}\,\,\,=\,\,\frac{{d\overset{\to }{\mathop{P}}\,}}{{dt}}
\overset{\to }{\mathop{F}}\,dt\,\,=\,\,d\overset{\to }{\mathop{P}}\,
If momentum of particle changes from {{\overrightarrow{P}}_{i}} to {{\overrightarrow{P}}_{f}} during a time interval of ti to tf, we can write
\int\limits_{{{{t}_{i}}}}^{{{{t}_{f}}}}{{\overset{\to }{\mathop{F}}\,\,\overset{{}}{\mathop{{dt}}}\,}}\,\,=\,\,\int\limits_{{{{{\overset{\to }{\mathop{P}}\,}}_{i}}}}^{{{{{\overset{\to }{\mathop{P}}\,}}_{f}}}}{{d\overset{\to }{\mathop{P}}\,}} Þ \int\limits_{{{{t}_{i}}}}^{{{{t}_{f}}}}{{\overrightarrow{F}dt}}\,\,=\,\,{{\overrightarrow{P}}_{f}}-{{\overrightarrow{P}}_{i}}\,\,=\,\,\Delta \overrightarrow{P}
The quantity on the left hand side of this equation is called the impulse of force for the time interval Dt = tf – ti. Impulse is represented by \overset{\to }{\mathop{J}}\, and is given by
\overset{\to }{\mathop{J}}\,\,\,=\,\,\int\limits_{{{{t}_{i}}}}^{{{{t}_{f}}}}{{\overset{\to }{\mathop{F}}\,\,dt\,\,=\,\,\Delta \overrightarrow{P}}} … (iii)
That is, “The impulse of force equals the change in momentum of the particle.“ This statement called ‘impulse momentum theorem,’ is equivalent to Newton’s second law.
From the equation of impulse, we can see that impulse is a vector quantity.
Let us say that a variable force is acting on a body whose graph is shown in the diagram given below. Then the magnitude of impulse is equal to the area under force-time graph as shown in figure by the shaded area.
Since the force can vary with time, we can define average force ( {{\vec{F}}_{{av}}}) as {{\overset{\to }{\mathop{F}}\,}_{{av}}}\,\,=\,\,\frac{{\Delta \overset{\to }{\mathop{P}}\,}}{{\Delta t}}
But we know that \Delta \overrightarrow{P}\,=\,\,\int\limits_{{{{t}_{i}}}}^{{{{t}_{f}}}}{{\overset{\to }{\mathop{F}}\,\,dt\,}}
Therefore {{\vec{F}}_{{av}}}\,\,=\,\,\frac{1}{{\Delta t}}\,\,\int\limits_{{{{t}_{i}}}}^{{{{t}_{f}}}}{{\overset{\to }{\mathop{F}}\,dt}}
From equation {{\overset{\to }{\mathop{F}}\,}_{{av}}}\,\,=\,\,\frac{{\Delta \overset{\to }{\mathop{P}}\,}}{{\Delta t}} we conclude that to change the momentum of a body some external force is required. Here Δt is the time of contact between the force and the body or we can also say that it is the time available for changing the momentum.
So if time of contact Δt is increased, average force is decreased and vice-versa.
This concept gives explanation of many questions where the momentum of a system is changed in a large time just to decrease the force.
For example
(i)
In catching a ball a player by drawing his hands backwards increases the time of contact and so, lesser force acts on his hands and his hands are saved from getting hurt.
(ii) In jumping on sand (or water) the time of contact is increased due to yielding of sand or water so force is decreased and we are not injured. However if we jump on cemented floor the motion stops in a very short interval of time resulting in a large force due to which we are seriously injured.
Whereas in some cases we can increase the force by decreasing the time of contact or by applying sudden force called impact on a body. For example In hitting or kicking a ball we decrease the time of contact so that large force acts on the ball producing greater acceleration
In all cases of Hitting, kicking, collision etc. the time is negligibly small where as the force is variable and reaches a extremely large magnitude as shown in the graph given below.
In all such cases an impulse acts on the body which is equal to the change in momentum as given by the following equation
\overset{\to }{\mathop{J}}\,\,\,=\,\,\int\limits_{{{{t}_{i}}}}^{{{{t}_{f}}}}{{\overset{\to }{\mathop{F}}\,\,dt\,\,=\,\,\Delta \overrightarrow{P}}}
Illustration
Figure shows the variation of force acting on a body with time. Calculate the impulse of this force.
Solution
Impulse of a force is the area under the graph.
Thus
J= \left[ {\frac{1}{2}\left( {500} \right)\left( 1 \right)+\left( {500} \right)\left( {2-1} \right)+\frac{1}{2}\left( {500} \right)\left( {3-2} \right)} \right]{{10}^{{-3}}}
or J = [250 + 500 + 250]10-3
or J = 1 Ns
Illustration
An 150 g ball is thrown at 30 m/s. It is struck by a bat which gives it a velocity of 40 m/s in the opposite direction. If the time of contact is 10-2s, what is the average force on the ball?
Solution
If we choose the original direction as +x axis, then
The average force is
Fav= \frac{{\Delta p}}{{\Delta t}}=\frac{{-0.15kg\times 70\,\hat{i}}}{{{{{10}}^{{-2}}}}}=-1050\,\hat{i}\,N
Notice that this is much larger than the weight (1.5 N) of the ball.
Illustration
Find the impulse due to the force \text{vec{F}} = a\,\hat{i}+bt\,\hat{j}, where a = 2N and b = 4 N/s, if this force acts from ti= 0 to tf= 0.3 s.
Solution
As we know that \overrightarrow{J}=\int\limits_{{{{t}_{i}}}}^{{{{t}_{f}}}}{{\vec{F}dt}}= \int\limits_{0}^{{0.3}}{{\left( {a\,\hat{i}+bt\,\hat{j}} \right)}}dt
or \overrightarrow{J}=a\,\hat{i}\int\limits_{0}^{{0.3}}{{dt}}+b\,\hat{j}\int\limits_{0}^{{0.3}}{{tdt}}
or \overrightarrow{J}=\left| {at\,\hat{i}\,\,} \right|_{0}^{{0.3}}+\left| {\frac{{b{{t}^{2}}}}{2}\hat{j}} \right|_{0}^{{0.3}}
or \overrightarrow{J} = (2)(0.3) \hat{i}+ \frac{{\left( 4 \right){{{\left( {0.3} \right)}}^{2}}}}{2}\hat{j}
thus \overrightarrow{J} = (0.6 \hat{i} + 0.18 \hat{j}) Ns
Illustration
In a particular crash test, an automobile of mass 1500 kg collides with a wall as in figure (a). The initial and final velocities of the automobile are vi = 15.0 m/s and vf = 2.6 m/s. If the collision lasts for 0.150 s, find the impulse due to the collision and the average force exerted on the automobile.
Solution
The initial and final momenta of the automobile are (taking rightward as positive)
pi = mvi = (1500 kg) (-15.0 m/s) = 2.25 × 104kg.m/s
pf = mvf = (1500 kg) (2.6 m/s) = 0.39 × 104kg.m/s
Hence, the impulse is
J = Δp = pf – pi = 0.39 × 104kg.m/s – (–2.25 × 104kg.m/s)
J = 2.64 × 104kg.m/s
The average force exerted on the automobile is given by
\overline{F}\,\,=\,\,\frac{{\Delta p}}{{\Delta t}}\,\,=\,\,\frac{{2.64\times {{{10}}^{4}}\,\mathbf{kg}\mathbf{.m/s}}}{{0.150s}}= 1.76 × 105 N
CONSERVATION OF LINEAR MOMENTUM
When the sum of the forces on an object is zero, the equation
{{\text{vec{F}}}_{{\text{net}}}}=\frac{{d\,\text{vec{P}}}}{{dt}}
Tell us that the time derivative of momentum is zero.
That is, \frac{{d\text{vec{P}}}}{{dt}}=0
This implies \text{vec{P}} = constant
Consequently, one can state a conservation law for momentum:
When the net force on a particle is zero, its momentum is constant.
The real utility of the momentum conservation concept comes about when it is applied to a collection of particles. For a system of particles, the total momentum is simply the vector sum of the momentum of each of the particles in the system. That is
\text{vec{P}} = \sum\limits_{{i=1}}^{N}{{{{{\vec{p}}}_{i}}}} (9)
Now consider the net force on a system of particles.
There are two kinds of forces:
(i)
Internal forces, resulting from the forces between the particles within the system, and
(ii)
External forces, arising from the forces between the particles in the system and objects outside the system.
For example, consider a system of two blocks joined together with a spring. If the system is allowed to fall freely under gravity, then the gravitational force acting on each block is the external force and the spring force acting on each block is internal.
When we calculate the net force on a system of particles by performing the vector sum of all the forces then {{\text{vec{F}}}_{{\text{net}}}} is the summation of all the internal and external forces and can be written as {{\text{vec{F}}}_{{net}}}=\sum{{\left( {{{{\text{vec{F}}}}_{{\text{ext}}}}+{{{\text{vec{F}}}}_{{\text{int}}}}} \right)}} . But the vector sum of all internal forces acting within the system is always zero because they exist in equal and opposite pairs.
Hence \sum{{{{{\text{vec{F}}}}_{{\text{int}}}}}}=0 and therefore {{\text{vec{F}}}_{{net}}}=\sum{{\left( {{{{\text{vec{F}}}}_{{\text{ext}}}}} \right)}}.
Now we can write Newton’s second law {{\text{vec{F}}}_{{\text{net}}}}=\frac{{d\overrightarrow{P}}}{{dt}} as
or \sum{{{{{\text{vec{F}}}}_{{\text{ext}}}}}}=\frac{{dvec{P}}}{{dt}} (10)
Now, if the summation of external forces is zero, then
\frac{{dvec{P}}}{{dt}}=0
Thus, \text{vec{P}} = constant (that is the linear momentum of the system remains conserved)
Law of Conservation of Momentum
So we can state the conservation of linear momentum as follows:
In the absence of a net external force, the linear momentum of a system is conserved.
The conservation of momentum law can be used to relate the initial motion of particles within a system to the motion of those same particles sometime later. The law emphasizes the equality of momentum before and after something happens within the system.
Thus, the conservation law is usually written as
{{\text{vec{P}}}_{{\text{initial}}}}={{\text{vec{P}}}_{{\text{final}}}}
\sum\limits_{{i=1}}^{N}{{{{{\text{vec{p}}}}_{\text{i}}}}}=\sum\limits_{{f=1}}^{N}{{{{{\text{vec{p}}}}_{\text{f}}}}}
Recoiling of a gun :
For bullet and gun system, the force exerted by trigger will be internal so the momentum of the system remains conserved. Here system means gun + bullet
Let {{m}_{G}}= mass of gun, {{m}_{B}}=mass of bullet,
{{v}_{G}}= velocity of gun , {{v}_{B}}=velocity of bullet
(Note that both the velocities are in the ground frame)
Initial momentum of system = 0 (Before firing)
Final momentum of system ={{m}_{G}}{{\vec{v}}_{G}}+{{m}_{B}}{{\vec{v}}_{B}} (After firing)
By the law of conservation of linear momentum
{{m}_{G}}{{\vec{v}}_{G}}+{{m}_{B}}{{\vec{v}}_{B}}=0
So recoil velocity {{\vec{v}}_{G}}=-\frac{{{{m}_{B}}}}{{{{m}_{G}}}}\,{{\vec{v}}_{B}}
(a)
Here negative sign indicates that the velocity of recoil {{\vec{v}}_{G}} is opposite to the velocity of the bullet.
(b)
{{v}_{G}}\propto \frac{1}{{{{m}_{G}}}} i.e. higher the mass of gun, lesser the velocity of recoil of gun.
Illustration
A baseball player uses a pitching machine to help him improve his batting average. He places the 50-kg machine on a frictionless surface as in figure. The machine fires a 0.15 kg baseball horizontally with a velocity of 36 m/s. What is the recoil velocity of the machine?
Solution:
We take the system, which consists of the baseball and the pitching machine. Because of the force of gravity and the normal force, the system is not really isolated. However, both of these forces are directed perpendicularly to the motion of the system. Therefore, momentum is constant in the x-direction because there are no external forces in this direction (as the surface is frictionless).
The total momentum of the system before firing is zero (m1v1i +m2v2i = 0). Therefore, the total momentum after firing must be zero; that is, m1v1f +m2v2f = 0
With m1 = 0.15 kg, v1i = 36 m/s, and m2 = 50 kg, solving for v2f, we find the recoil velocity of the pitching machine to be
{{v}_{{2f}}}\,=\,\,-\frac{{{{m}_{2}}}}{{{{m}_{2}}}}\,\,{{v}_{1}}_{f}\,\,=\,\,-\,\left( {\frac{{0.15\,kg}}{{50\,\,kg}}} \right) (36 m/s) = –0.11 m/s
The negative sign for v2f indicates that the pitching machine is moving to the left after firing, in the direction opposite the direction of motion of the cannon. In the words of Newton’s third law, for every force (to the left) on the pitching machine, there is an equal but opposite force (to the right) on the ball. Because the pitching machine is much more massive than the ball, the acceleration and consequent speed of the pitching machine are much smaller than the acceleration and speed of the ball.
Illustration
A man moving on a platform (or boat) kept on a frictionless surface.
When a man moves on a boat ,the frictional force acting between his feet and boat acts as an internal force therefore it cannot change the momentum of system (boat+man). Hence the conservation of momentum is applicable. This can be understood by the following solved example.
A 75 kg man stands at the rear end of a platform of mass 25 kg and length 4m, which moves initially at 4 \hat{i} m/s over a frictionless surface. At t = 0, he walks at 2 m/s relative to the platform and then stops at the front end. During the period of walking, find the displacement of
(a) the platform,
(b) the man
Solution
Initially the man, the platform, and the cm have the same velocity, 4 \hat{i}m/s, as shown in the figure. When he begins to walk forward, his increase in momentum must be compensated for by a decrease in the platform’s momentum. Let us say that the velocity of the platform relative to the ground while he is walking i.e.
{{\text{vec{v}}}_{{\text{PG}}}}={{v}_{p}}\hat{i}
The velocity of man relative to the ground is then
{{\text{vec{v}}}_{{\text{MG}}}}={{\text{vec{v}}}_{{\text{MP}}}}+{{\text{vec{v}}}_{{\text{PG}}}}= (2 + vP) 4 \hat{i}.
From the conservation of momentum, we have
(75 + 25) x 4 = 75( 2 + vp) + 25 vP
Thus, the velocity of the platform is vP= 2.5 m/s, and
The velocity of the man is vm= 4.5 m/s.
Since the velocity of man relative to platform is 2 m/s,
Therefore, it takes
t = \frac{{4m}}{{2m/s}}=2s
to walk from the rear to the front.
Displacement of platform is
xp= vpt= (2.5)(2) = 5 m
Displacement of the man is
Xm= vmt= (4.5)(2) = 9 m
Practice Questions (Level-1)
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Practice Questions (Level-2)
Comprehension Based Question ( 1 And 2)
A bomb at rest explodes into two fragments of masses 3.0 kg and 1.0 kg. The total kinetic energy of the fragments is 6 × 104J. Calculate
1.
kinetic energy of the bigger fragment
(a) 3.0 × 104 J
(b) 1.5 × 104 J
(c) 1.2 × 104 J
(d) 1.5 × 10-4 J
Ans (b)
2.
momentum of the smaller fragment.
(a) 500 kgms–1
(b) 300 kgms–3
(c) 300 kgms–1
(d) –300 kgms–1
Ans (d)
3.
A man weighing 80 kg is standing on a trolley weighing 320 kg. The trolley is resting on frictionless horizontal rails. If the man starts walking on the trolley along the rails at speed 1 m/s then after 4s his displacement relative to the ground will be:
(a) 5 m
(b) 4.8 m
(c) 3.2 m
(d) 3.0 m
Ans (c)
4.
In a two block system an initial velocity v0 (with respect to ground) is given to block A:
(a) the momentum of block A is not conserved
(b) the momentum of system of blocks A and B is conserved
(c) the increases in momentum of B is equal to the decrease in momentum block A
(d) all of the above
Ans (d)
5.
A uniform metal disc of radius R is taken and out of it a disc of diameter R is cut off from the end. The centre of mass of the remaining part will be:
(a) \frac{R}{4}\,\text{from}\,\,\text{the}\,\,\text{centre}
(b) \frac{R}{3}\text{from}\,\,\text{the}\,\,\text{centre}
(c) \frac{R}{5}\text{from}\,\,\text{the}\,\,\text{centre}
(d) \frac{R}{6}\text{from}\,\,\text{the}\,\,\text{centre}
Ans (d)