Chapter 7

Conservation of
momentum in 2D
Momentum is a vector.
It has a x-component and
a y-component.
 Find the velocity of the wreck after the collision.
The 2 cars collide @ right angle. 2 ways to do it:
- use the components. -Use pythagorian theorem

Conservation of momentum can be used in 2D

2
mA=1500kg=mB
Va=30m/s VB = 40m/s
Find the final velocity : magnitude and direction
mA=1500kg=mB
VA=30m/s@right VB = 40m/s@up
Find the final velocity : magnitude and direction

ALONG x-axis ALONG y-axis

Before after before after

PAx=1500(30) Px'=(3000)Vx' PAy=0
PBx=0 PB'=40(1500) Py'=(3000)Vy'

1500(30) + 0 = 3000Vx' 40(1500) + 0 = (3000) Vy' 3

Vx'=15m/s Vy'=20m/s

V=25m/s @ 53 degrees above x-axis

 VB

So Vx'=15m/s and Vy' = 20m/s

Draw the final velocity, find magnitude and direction θ

V'=25m/s@53 degrees 4
 2nd way to solve this problem: use pythagorian theorem
Works only when you have a right angle before or
After the collision. You can also remember that
Momentum are vectors
Conservation says:
PA + PB = Pf
Add vectors PA and PB

Pf
PB

PA

PA2+PB2 = Pf2
(1500x30)2+(1500x40)2=(3000Vf)2
Vf=25m/s in magnitude
Conservation of momentum can be used in 2D tan(angle)=PB/PA=4/3
Angle=53 degrees 5
mA=1500kg=mB
So Vf=25m/s @ 53 degrees
VA=30m/s VB = 40m/s
Find the final velocity : magnitude and direction
 Momentum
before

mV

p1' p2'
p1' p2'

Momentum
An explosion obeys conservation of momentum
after=before
A radioactive decay also obey
Add the vectors p1' 6and p2'
conservation of momentum
= mV
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 A hard X-ray can be used to knock an electron out
Of a cancer cell. Another photon is emitted . The conservation
Of momentum has to apply. The photon loses energy in the process
(the electron gains kinetic energy) so its wavelegnth increases
7
It can become a soft x-ray.
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Here is another example of conservation of mometum.
This is a nuclear reaction. A alpha particle (nucleus of helium) is shot
At a nytrogen atom. The products are an isotope of oxygen
And a proton. This is how the proton was discovered by Rutherford.
Source: The physics of everyday phenomena, Thomas Griffith.

8
Here is another example of
conservation of mometum.
This is a nuclear reaction. A neutron
Is shot at the isotope U-235
U-236 in unstable and split
Into kripton and barium.
In the process 2 neutrons are
Emitted. A chain reaction can
Be produced. This reaction
Is the big idea of the first
Atomic bomb (Hiroshima).
Fermi was among the sicentists
Who understood the process
And how to control it in a nuclear
Reactor. Lisa Meitner and her
Nephew Frisch were the ones
Who understood this fission
Reaction.
9
Source: The physics of everyday phenomena,
Thomas Griffith.
 1

30
1 2
60

2 ways to do it. 2
- use the components – phythagorian theorem because the angle is 90
A 2kg ball is moving at a velocity of 5m/s.
It collides with a stationary ball also 2kg.
After the collision the first ball moves off in a direction 30 degrees to the lelt of its
Original direction. The second ball moves off in a direction 90 degrees to the right
Of ball A's final direction. (I drawed for you).
Find the speeds of each ball after the collision.
Method 1:
First find the components of the velocities before and after the collision.
Along each axis the total momentum is conserved.
Hints:
V1x'=V1cos(30) with V1 unknown
V1y'=V1sin(30) 10
So same thing for V2x' and V2y'
Note that it's a good idea to attach tail of the vectors to the origin
To see if the components are positive or negative.
 1
m=2kg
5m/s
30
1 2
60

after
before
V1 V1' V1x'=V1cos(30)
V1x=5 V1y''=V1sin(30)
V1y=0

V2 V2' V2x'=V2cos(60)
V2x=0
V2y'=V2sin(60)'
V2y=0

11
Along x-axis and along y-axis the momentum is conserved.
You need to find the 2 equations.
That's the long way but it works.
1
m=2kg
5m/s
30
1 2
60

after
before 2
V1 V1'
V1x=5 V1x'=V1cos(30)
V1y=0 V1y''=V1sin(30)

V2 V2' V2x'=V2cos(60)
V2x=0
V2y''= - V2sin(60)
V2y=0

Along x-axis:
2(5) + 0 = V1x'(2)+V2x'(2) or 5 = V1(0.866) + V2(0.5)
Along the y-axis
0=v1y'(2) +V2y' (2) or 0=V1(0.5) – V2(0.866)
12

Physics stops here. Solve for V1 and V2. v1=4.33m/s and V2=2.5m/s
V1 = 4.33m/s@30 V2=2.5m/s@-60 degrees
 2nd way to do it: m=2kg p1 1
5m/s

p0 30
1 2
60
p2

2
Momentum is a vector. You add momentums like you add vectors.
Conservation of momentum tells us:

po = p1 + p2 (as vectors)
You can use tail to head method or the paralellogram method:
You have: (now we consider the magntitude)
p1 p1=p0cos(30)
90 p2
mV1'=mV1cos(30) so V1'= 4.33m/s

30 60 p2=p0sin(30)
p0 mV2'=mV2sin(30) so V2'=2.5m/s
Note that p12 +p22 = p02 this is because energy is conserved: 13
V12+V22=V02 or KE0=KE1+KE2 that's why the angle between p2 and p1 is right.
If the KE is not conserved, the angle is not right and the collision is inelastic.
We can still use conservation of momentum.
When you play pool, the total momentum is conserved and if the balls
Don't spin, the kinetic energy is also conserved.
There are only 2 ways to achieve that:

The white ball hit the black

one at rest. After, the angle
is right. po=p1+p2
2
po =p12 +p22
(vectorial sum)
The kinetic energy is conserved

The white ball hit the black

one at rest. The white ball stops
And the black one gets its momentum.
po=p2
The kinetic energy is conserved
2
po =p22
14
 Find Vf1
First find the components
Of the velocities before and
After = Attach tail of the vector
?
? toThe origin to compute the
Components Vx and Vy.
sine=opposite cosine=adjacent

after
before
V1 V1' V1x'
V1x= V1y''
V1y=

V2 V2' V2x'
V2x=
V2y''
V2y=
7.4 Collisions in Two Dimensions

after
before
V1' V1x'
V1 V1x=0.9sin(50)=0.69 V1y'
50 V1y=-0.9cos(50)=-58

V2 V2' V2x'=0.7cos(35)=0.57
V2x=0.54
35 V2y'=--0.7sin(35)=-0.40
V2y=0
 before after

V1 V1' V1x'
V1x=0.9sin(50)=0.69 V1y'
50 V1y=-0.9cos(50)=-0.58

V2 V2' V2x'=0.7cos(35)=0.57
V2x=0.54
35 V2y'=--0.7sin(35)=-0.40
V2y=0

m1=0.150kg, m2=0.260kg
Momentum before = momentum after
Along x-axis:
m1V1x + m2V2x= m1V1x'+m2V2x' or
0.15(0.69) +0.26(0.54) = 0.15V1'x + 0.26(0.57)
Along y-axis:
m1V1y+m2V2y=m1V1y'+m2V2y' or
0.15(-0.58) + 0 = 0.15V1y' + 0.26 (-0.40)
Physics stops, Math takes over. Solve for V1x and V1y. Find the final velocity
 V1x=0.63m/s and V1y=0.12m/s

V1=0.64m/s@11 Degrees above positive x-axis.

You can check if kinetic energy is conserved or no.

 Assignments:
1.A truck with a mass of 4000kg traveling with a speed of 10m/s collides
At right angles with a car with a mass of 1500kg traveling with a speed of 20m/s
Find the final velocity of the wreck. (hit and stick situatin)

2.review
A plastic ball of mass 100g moves with a speed of 20cm/s/
A second plastic ball of mass 40g is moving along the same path at 10cm/s
The 2 balls collide. After the collision, the 100g mass has a velocity of 15cm/s in its
Original direction. What is the velocity (speed and direction)of the 40g aftercollision?

3.A 80kg football player going North at 3m/s is tackled by a 100kg player going east
At 2m/s. After the impact which way they are going and how fast?

4. An object of mass m moves with a velocity V toward a stationary object

Of mass 2m. After impace, the object move off in directions shown below.
Use conservation of momentum along x and along y to find 2 equations
That include the velocity V, V1' and V2'. Don't solve the system.
Advanced: find V1' and V2' in terms of V. (those who are switching to 108)
1 V1'
30 hints:
1 2 45 V1'x=V1'cos(30) V1y'=V1'sin(30)
V
V2'x=V2'cos(45) V2y'=- V2'sin(45)
2 V2'
p. 219 number 34
mA= 0.025kg
mB=0.05kg

Use the conservation of momentum along

x and long y to find the 2 equations
With 2 unknown to solve.

Advanced: solve the 2 equations.

p. 219 number 36
Object A is moving @ east. Object B is moving @ North. They collide and stick.
Object A has a mass of 17kg and an initial velocity of 8m/s@east.
Object B has a mass of 29kg and initial velocity of 5m/s@north
Find the magnitude and direction of the total momentum of the 2-object system
After the collision.