DIRECT COLLISIONS

Principle of Conservation of Linear Momentum

m1u1

P.C.M (i ):

m2u2

m1v1

Newtons Experimental Law

m2v2

The Principle of Conservation of Momentum [P.C.M]: states that

when two or more bodies collide the total momentum before impact
equals the total momentum after impact provide there are no
external forces.

Impulse (change in momentum)

Impulse : I

mv mu

v1

Ns

Impulse: When two bodies collide,

each receives an Impulse (change in
momentum) from the other of equal
size but opposite direction. Hence
the magnitude of the impulse is
equal to the change of momentum of
either of the two bodies.

v1 v2

N.E.L (i ):

v1i

Potential Energy

v2 i

Potential Energy: E p

m2 kg
i

u1i

u2 u2 i

Direct collision of two smooth spheres of equal volume

Momentum

momentum

mass velocity

Ns

The Momentum (Ns) of a particle is a vector quantity given by the

product of its mass and its velocity i.e momentum = mass velocity

Loss in E k

mgh ( J )

Potential Energy: The potential

energy of a body is the energy it
possesses due to its position.

Kinetic Energy
Kinetic Energy:

u1

0 e 1

Newtons Experimental Law [N.E.L]: states that when two

bodies collide the relative velocity after impact is proportional
to the relative velocity before impact in a direction along the
line of centres, where the constant of proportionality
represents the coefficient of restitution (e).

v2

m1 kg

e(u1 u2 )

Ek

1 2
mv
2

(J )

Kinetic Energy: The kinetic

energy of a body is the energy it
possesses due to its motion.

Loss in Kinetic Energy

1
1
2
2
m1 u1
v1
m2 u2
2
2

v2

(J )

Loss in Kinetic Energy: When two bodies collide some of the

kinetic energy may be converted to heat and sound. In a perfect
elastic collision (e = 1) no kinetic energy is lost, however in an
inelastic collision (0 e < 1) kinetic energy is lost.

OBLIQUE COLLISIONS
v1 v1i a j

v2 v2i b j

m1 kg

m2 kg

u1 u1i a j

u2 u2 i b j

Oblique collision of two smooth spheres of equal volume along the i - axis

Oblique collision of two smooth spheres of equal volume along the j - axis

Kinetic Energy: The kinetic energy of

a body is the energy it possesses
because of its motion.

Impulse :
Loss in E k

I
1
2
m1 u1
2

Scalar Product:

mv
v1

mu
1
m2 u2
2

u1.v

Ns
2

v2

(J )

u1 v1 cos

Loss in Kinetic Energy

Loss in E k

1
m1
2

u1

v1

1
m2
2

u2

v2

(J )

v1 v1i a j

v2 v2i b j

m1 kg

u1 u1i a j

m2 kg

u2 u2 i b j

Oblique collision of two smooth spheres of equal volume along the i - axis

Oblique collision of two smooth spheres of equal volume along the i-axis