Collision & Impulse

Concept :
We observe a lot of collisions in our daily life. One of the characteristic of a collision is that there
is sudden change in velocity of the object.
For example, when an -particle passes by the nucleus of a hydrogen atom in Rutherfords
experiment, it gets deflected in a very short time.
Deflection means a change in direction of motion, a change in velocity.
Therefore the -particle is said to be accelerating. This acceleration is caused by strong
electrostatic force of repulsion between -particle and the nucleus in a very short time. In this
process, the particles do not touch each other.
Let us take another example. When a rubber ball strikes a floor, it remains in contact with the
floor for very short time in which it changes its velocity.
This is an example of collision where physical contact takes place between the colliding bodies.
Collision is a process in which two bodies mutually interact and exchange their energy &
momentum.
Impulse is the change in momentum produced by an impulsive force in a short interval of
time.
Note that impulsive force is a large force that acts on a body for a short interval of time.

Impulse :
Take the example of a ball striking with the ground with certain velocity, say v1 . During a very
short time t , it changes its velocity to v2 , say.
The change in velocity of the ball is
v = v2 v1
=> The acceleration of the ball is
a = v/t
a = dv/dt
Since a = Fnet /m according to Newtons 2nd Law of motion

The term F.dt is known as impulse.

The impulse of a force F in a given time interval t is equal to the product of the force and the
time interval.
This is numerically equal to the change of momentum of the body due to the action of the force F
during that time internal.
Illustration : A ball of mass 50 gm is dropped from a height h = 10 m. It rebounds losing 75
percent of its total mechanical energy. If it remains in contact with the ground for t = 0.01 sec.,
find the impulse of the impact force.
Solution: The change in momentum P of the ball during t = 0.01 sec. is known as the impulse
(F t) of the force of impact

F t = P
P | = |mv2 mv1|
= m(v1 + v2) are antiparallel)
Ft = m(v1 + v2) .(1)
Since, the ball falls through a height h , 2gh .
As the ball losses 75 percent of its total mechanical energy that is kinetic energy.
1/2 mv22 = 1/2 mv12 (1 75/100)
v2 = v1 /2 = 2gh/2 = (gh/2)
Substitution of the values of v1 and v2 in (1) yields
Ft = 90 x 10-3 x 3(gh/2)
= 90 x 10-3 x 3(9.810/2)
= 1.05 N-sec.

Impulsive force

Following the previous example, we find that the average force exerted by the ground on the ball
during time t is given as Fnet = m(v2 v1)/t
since (v2 v1) is finite and the time internal t is infinitesimal, their ratio becomes very large.
Therefore Fnet is a very large force acting on the ball for very short time.
This impact force is known as impulsive force. The impact force or impulsive force F is much
greater than the external forces like weight (mg) and frictional force, in general.
Illustration : A ball of mass = 100 gm is released from a height h1 = 2.5 m with the ground level
and then rebounds to a height h2 = 0.625 m. The time of contact of the ball and the ground is t =
0.01 sec. Find the impulsive (impact) force offered by the ball on the ground.
Solution:
F = m(v2 v1)/t
where | v2 v1|
= v 2 + v1 ,
where v1 = 2gh1 and v2 = 2gh2

F=

F=
F = 105 N.
Conservation of linear momentum during impact

If two bodies of mass m1 and m2 collide in air, the net external force acting on the system of
bodies (m1+m2) is equal to

We know that, during collision the impact forces are equal in magnitude and opposite in
direction. According to Newtons 3rd law of motion,

Using (1) and (2), we obtain,

Since the impact takes place for very short time dt, the impulse of the force

=> Impulse = (m1+m2)gdt

Since t is a very small time interval, the impulse F. t will be negligibly small. Because, impulse
is equal to change in momentum of the system, a negligible impulse means negligible change of
momentum. Let the change of momentum of 1 & 2 be respectively. The total change in
momentum of the system

Therefore the net or total momentum of the colliding bodies remains practically unchanged along
the line of action (impact) during the collision; In the other words, we can say that momentum of
the system remains constant or conserved during the period of impact. Therefore we can
conveniently equate the net momentum of the colliding bodies at the beginning and at the end of
the collision (or just before and just after the impact).
Problems On Collision & Impulse
Note:

Remember that the impact force F is not an external force for the system of colliding bodies.
If no external force acts on the system, its momentum remains constant for all the times
including the time of collision. Even if some external forces like gravitation, friction (known as
non-impulsive forces in general) are present, we can conserve the momentum of the system
during the impact, because the finite external forces cannot change the momentum of the system
significantly in very short time.

Therefore, the change in position of the system during infinitesimal time of impact can also
neglected.
Graphically, we observe that:
(a) The force becomes very large during a short time t (time of collision).
(b) The external forces acting on the system are negligible compared to the impulsive force F
acting during the time t .
(c) The area of F-t curve during the time t = 0tF dt .
It measures the impulse of the force during time t or change of momentum of the system during
that time.
Illustration : The area of F-t curve is A. If the one of the colliding bodies of mass m is at rest,
find its speed just after the collision.
Solution: The area of F-t curve gives the impulse of the force F during the time. That is equal to
the change in momentum of the colliding bodies.

Since one of the colliding body was at rest just before the collision, the change in its momentum
during the impact is equal to momentum just after the impact, that is mv.
Ft = mv
Since Ft = A
=> v = A/m.
Illustration : Two block of masses m and 3m are connected by an inextensible string and the
string passes over a fixed pulley which is massless and frictionless.

A bullet of mass m moving with a velocity u hits the hanging block of mass m and gets
embedded in it. Find the height of through which block A rises after the collision.
Solution: As soon as the collision occurs, the string becomes slack, tension becomes zero.
Vertically gravitational force is acting downwards. But as gravitational force is weaker force than
impulse force, therefore a possible change of momentum due to gravitational force during
collision can be neglected.
Hence, conserving momentum of the system during collision along vertical:
If v = velocity of the combined mass just after collision
Then, mu = 2mv
v = u/2
Block (A bullet start velocity u/2
Now, maximum height through which the combined mass rises

Problems On Collision & Impulse

Illustration : A system of two blocks A and B are connected by an inextensible massless string
as shown. The pulley in massless and frictionless.

A bullet of mass m moving with a velocity u as shown hits the block B and gets
embedded into it. Find the impulse imparted by tension force to the system.
Solution:
Let velocity of B and A after collision has magnitude v.
At the time of collision tension = T
Impulse provided by tension = Tdt
Consider change of momentum of (B + bullet)
mu Tdt = 2mv

(i)

Consider change of momentum A

Tdt = 3mv

..(ii)

from (i) and (ii), mu = 5 mv

=> v = u/5
Hence, Impulse Tdt = 3mv
= 3m(u/5) = 3mu/5
Analysis of Collision

Changes during impact

(a) During impact each of the colliding bodies experiences a strong force.

Therefore, during the period of impact each of the bodies changes its momentum, but as a whole,
the total momentum of the system does not change.
(b) Impact is practically followed by emission of light, sound, heat etc.
Therefore, during an impact or collision, the mechanical energy of the system does not remain
constant whereas the total energy of the system remains unchanged.
(c) In ideal collisions such as collision between gas molecules, atoms, electrons, protons etc., the
K.E. of the system of colliding particles remains constant before and after the impact. This type
of collision is known as perfectly elastic collision. Remember that, during collision, the K.E. of
the particles changes due to large impulsive forces.
(d) In some collisions, the K.E. of the system changes. In this case we cannot term the collision
perfectly elastic.
(e) For perfectly elastic collisions, the K.E. of the system before and after the impact does not
change, but during the impact, some of the K.E. is converted to elastic energy.
(f) If the colliding particles/bodies stick together, they move together with same velocity. This is
a perfectly inelastic collision.
In this process sometimes K.E. is lost completely, for example, in dropping a stone into mud, the
stone loses its total K.E. Sometimes, a fraction of the K.E. is lost,
for example, in the collision of a bullet and a hanging target.
(g) Relative velocity of the bodies just after the collision (velocity of separation) may or may not
equal that before the collision along the line of impact (velocity of approach).
Illustration : A ball of mass m strikes the fixed inclined plane after falling through a height h,. If
it rebounds without losing energy, find the impulse on the ball.

Solution:
NN is perpendicular to the inclined face. NN is therefore the line of impact.PQ-> is direction of
initial velocity of the ball.

QR-> is the direction of final velocity of the ball.

Because this is an elastic collision,
PQN = NQR =
Impulse in measured along the impact line.

The change in velocity of the ball along NN = v = 2vCos (as explained earlier) where as there
is no change in its velocity along the inclined plane.
=> Impulse = mv
= m(2v cos)
= 2mv cos
Since the ball falls through a height h just before collision
v = 2gh
=> Impulse = 2m cos2gh
Coefficient of restitution

Changes during impact

Newton proved by experiments that, when two bodies collide, the relative velocity after the
impact bears a constant ratio with the relative velocity before impact along the line of action of
impact. This constant is known as coefficient of restitution of the impact, denoted by the letter e

(a) for perfectly elastic e = 1

(b) For perfectly inelastic v2 = v1 because the bodies move combiningly
v2 v1 = 0
=> e = 0
(c) for other collision
0<e<1
(d) In general
0 e 1 (theoretically)
Note: Neither perfectly elastic nor perfectly inelastic collisions occur in nature. e is a
dimensionless quantity.
Exericse : A particle of mass m moves with vo = 20 m/sec. towards a wall that is moving with v
= 5 m/sec.

If the particle collides with the wall without losing its energy, find the speed of the particle just
after the collision.
Consideration of line of impact

This is most important to know the line of action or impact during the collision.
The line of impact is the line along which the impulsive force acts on the bodies or the impact
takes place.
How do you find the line of impact using this concept ?

Step 1: Let two bodies 1 and 2 collide. First of all find the point of contact just before the
collision.
Step 2: Draw a straight line passing through the point of contact of the bodies so that it does not
touch any part of their surfaces. That is known as tangent to the surfaces in contact or we can call
it as common tangent.
Step 3: After drawing the tangent, draw a normal to the tangent at the point. This normal line is
known as line of impact. That means impulsive force acts on the bodies along this line.
After finding the line of impact, calculate the components of their relative velocity just after and
before the impact , along this line and set their ratio equal to e.

are the component velocity of 1 and 2 just before and after the impact along the normal (line of
impact) respectively. (u21)n is known as velocity of approach and (v21)n is known as velocity of
separation
Illustration : A triangular wedge of mass M is moving with uniform velocity vo along a smooth
horizontal surface in the leftward direction.

A particle of mass m falls from rest from h on to the inclined face, colliding elastically with it.
Find velocity of the ball and wedge after the impact taking M = 2m.
Solution: Impact incline is a straight line perpendicular to the incline. Normal reaction force
between the body and the wedge acts along the impact line.
This normal force becomes an internal force when we consider (wedge + body) as a total system
But , normal reaction and considerable in magnitude because the impact force during collision
has contribution towards making of the normal force.
-> Momentum of the system is conserved along a line perpendicular to this normal force
momentum of the system is conserved along horizontal. (i)

-> Momentum of the body particle is conserved along the common tangent at the point of
impact. .. (ii)
-> As this is an elastic collision ,
relative velocity of separation along the impact line = relative velocity of approach. (iii)
-> If the wedge were at rest then the body / particle would deflect in the horizontal direction after
collision because it is an elastic collision (iv)

-> As, in this case, wedge is moving, the object would not be deflected horizontally ,
but at an angle to the impact
. (v)
Velocity of body particle before Impact = u = 2gh along PO
Velocity of body particle after collision = v1 along OQ
Velocity of wedge before collision = v0 along RO
Velocity of wedge after collision = v2 along RO
v0 cos45 u cos45 = v1 cos v2cos45
v1 cos = v2/2 = u/2 v0/2
2v1 cos + v2 = u v0

(A)

According to logic (i)

Mv0 = Mv2 mv1 cos(45 )
=> 2v0 = 2v2 v1cos(45 )
=> 2v2 v1cos(45 ) = 2v0 . (B)
According to logic (ii)

mu sin 45 = mv1 sin

=> v1 sin = u

. (C)

Solving

Velocities after Collision

Head on collision :
Velocities after Collision

Two bodies of mass m1 and m2 moving along the same straight line collide such that their relative
velocity is along the line of action. Let the velocities before the collision be u1 and u2 and that
just after the collision be v1 and v2 respectively. Assume that the direction of motion of the bodies
remains the same just before and after the collision.
Conserving the linear momentum along the line of impact, we obtain,

Since all the momenta are unidirectional

(1)
Newtons experimental law yields

(2)
Eliminating v2 from (1) and (2)
We obtain,

and

Exercise 8: An iron ball A collides with another stationary iron ball B. If the ratio of radii of the
balls is n = 2, find the ratio of their speeds just after the collision (e = 0.5)