1 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Why is it a good idea to avoid a large object moving quickly?

2 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

What is momentum?
All moving objects have what Newton called a “quantity
of motion.”
Momentum-this is a measure of how difficult it is to stop a
moving object.
If these two cars have the
same mass but one is
quicker than the other, which
has the most momentum?
The faster car.
If both cars travel at the same velocity, but one is full with
luggage and the other is empty, which will have the most
momentum? The heavier car.
The bigger an object is and the faster it moves, the more
momentum it will have and the more difficult it will be to stop.
3 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007
How is momentum calculated?
The momentum of an object can be calculated using this
equation:

momentum = mass x velocity

 Mass is measured in kilograms (kg).

 Velocity is measured in metres per second (m/s).

 Momentum is measured in kilogram metres per

second (kg m/s).

4 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

•The mass of an object affects the
amount of momentum the object has.
•For example, you can catch a baseball
moving at 20 m/s, but you cannot stop a
car moving at the same speed.

5 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

•The velocity of an object also affects the
amount of momentum an object has.
•For example, an arrow shot from a bow
has a large momentum because,
although it has a small mass, it travels at
a high velocity.

6 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Figure 17 Momentum An object’s momentum depends on velocity and
mass. Problem Solving If both dogs have the same velocity, which one
has the greater momentum?

7 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Scalar or vector?
As velocity is needed to calculate momentum, momentum
must also be a vector quantity and it therefore has a
direction.
If two objects of the same mass are moving in opposite
directions but at the same speed (i.e. their velocities are
different), the momentum of each object will be of the same
magnitude but a different direction.

A ‘+’ and a ‘-’ are often used to indicate the direction of

momentum of moving objects.

8 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Calculating momentum question

An aircraft carrier has a

mass of 1,000,000 kg
and a velocity of 15 m/s.
What is its momentum?

momentum = mass x velocity

= 1,000,000 x 15

= 15,000,000 kg m/s

9 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

10 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007
 Force and change in momentum
When a force is applied to an object, the object’s velocity changes. This
means that its momentum will also change.
The change in momentum depends on the size of the force and the time for which
it is applied. The relationship between these values is shown by this equation:
force = change in momentum
time
 Momentum is measured in kilogram meters per
second (kg.m/s).
 Time is measured in seconds (s).
 Force is measured in newtons (N).

11 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

IMPULSE
IMPULSE
the change in momentum of an object due to a force that is
applied during a period of time.

Impulse = force x time

 Force is measured in Newton (N).

 Time is measured in second (s).

 Impulse is measured in Newton second (N.s).

12 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Impulse – Momentum Theorem
Impulse is equal to a change in momentum.

Ft = ∆(mv)
Impulses are greater when the object bounces
• It takes additional impulse to stop an object and send it back
in the opposite direction than it does to simply stop the object
• This additional impulse is supplied by the surface on which
the object bounces

13 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Forces of Impact
Forces of impact are reduced
when time of impact increases.
Forces of impact are also reduced
when:
the velocity of impact is reduced
the mass of the object is reduced

14 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Change in momentum question 1
A rugby ball of mass 0.5 kg is
kicked from stationary to a velocity
of 8 m/s. The kicker’s foot is in
contact with ball for 0.1 seconds.
What force does the kicker use?

change in momentum
force =
time
= (0.5 x 8) – ( 0.5 x 0)
0.1
= 4
0.1
= 40 N

15 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Change in momentum question 2
A tennis ball is rolled at a toy car of mass 0.1 kg. The car
is moved with a velocity of 0.5 m/s. If the ball and car are
in contact for 0.05 seconds, with what force is the tennis
ball rolled?
change in momentum
force =
time
= (0.1 x 0.5) – ( 0.1 x 0)
0.1
= 0.05
0.05
= 1N

16 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Momentum and collisions

17 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

What is Conservation of Momentum?

•The law of conservation of

momentum states that, in the
absence of outside forces, the
total momentum of objects that
interact does not change.

18 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

 What is Conservation of Momentum?

•The amount of momentum is the same before

and after they interact.
•The total momentum of any group of objects
remains the same, or is conserved, unless
outside forces act on the objects.
•Friction is an example of
outside force

19 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

What is conservation of momentum?
If two objects collide or interact, the
forces acting on each one will be the
same size but in opposite directions.
The same is true for the change in
momentum of each object.

This means that the momentum

lost by one of the objects will
be gained by the other object.
Therefore, whenever two
objects collide or interact,
momentum is conserved.

20 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Using conservation of momentum

21 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Conservation of momentum question
Two trolleys collide and stick
together. From the data below,
calculate the velocity of the
trolleys after the collision.
trolley A trolley B
mass = 3 kg mass = 5 kg
velocity = 8 m/s velocity = -4 m/s
momentum = 24 kg m/s (3 x 8) momentum = -20 kg m/s (5 x -4)

total momentum before collision = 4 kg m/s (24 + -20)

mass after collision = 8 kg (3 + 5)
momentum after collision = 4 kg m/s
velocity after collision = momentum / mass = 0.5 m/s

22 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Investigating momentum

23 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Momentum in explosions

24 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

 Collision
Collisions are categorized according to whether the total
kinetic energy of the system changes. Kinetic energy may be
lost during collisions when (1) it is converted to heat or other
forms like binding energy, sound, light (if there is spark), etc.
and (2) it is spent in producing deformation or damage, such
as when two cars collide.
In any collision the net momentum before the collision
equals the net momentum after the collision.

Total momentum before collision = total momentum after collision

25 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

ELASTIC COLLISION
one in which the total kinetic energy of the
system does not change and colliding objects
bounce off after collision.
Perfectly elastic collisions almost never
occur.
Heat is usually generated with collisions, so
energy is transformed out of the system

26 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

ELASTIC COLLISION

Figure 23. Elastic Collisions. (a) moving object collides with a stationary object (b) two moving
objects collide head-on (c) two objects moving in the same direction collide
27 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007
INELASTIC COLLISION
– one in which the total kinetic energy of the
system changes (i.e., converted to some other
form of energy)
For two objects in an inelastic collision:
momentum1 + momentum2 = combined momentum1&2

m1v1 + m2v2 = (m1 + m2)vf

28 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

INELASTIC COLLISION

Figure 24. Inelastic Collision. Two objects collide, stick together and
move as one.
29 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007
ELASTIC AND INELASTIC COLLISION

30 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Center of Mass and Center of the Human Body

31 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Center of Mass
• It is where the objects mass is equally distributed in all
directions
• Mass is balanced at the center of mass in all directions
• The point between the system describing the average
position of the mass

32 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Determining Center of Mass
•Using lines of symmetry for symmetrical
objects

33 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

 Determining Center of Mass
•Plumbline method – used for objects
which can be suspended freely

34 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Translational Motion
• A type of motion in which all points of a moving body is
moving uniformly in the same line or direction with the same
velocity
• An object that moves along a straight line has a rectilinear
motion
Examples: a bullet fired from a gun
a car moving in one direction
an arrow shot from a bow
an airplane in motion
a rollercoaster
35 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007
Car crashes and momentum
What happens if two cars travelling very quickly collide?
Both cars come to a stop
in a short space of time.
This means that the cars
and their occupants
experience a large change
of momentum very quickly.
Why could this cause a
very serious injury?
A very large change of momentum in a short space of time
means the car occupants will experience a very large force.
Using this principle, how could you improve the safety of
cars?

36 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Reducing force in car crashes
Many modern car safety features work by increasing the
amount of time taken for the person to decelerate in a
collision. How does this reduce the risk of serious injury?

A longer deceleration means that change in momentum

occurs over a longer time. There is therefore a smaller
force acting on the person.

What features of cars

use this principle?

 seatbelts

 airbags

 crumple zones

37 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

How do car safety features work?

38 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Momentum: true or false?

39 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Glossary
 conservation of momentum – The principle stating
that when two objects interact with no external forces, their
total momentum will not change.

 momentum – A property of a moving object equal to its

mass times velocity.

 scalar – A quantity that has magnitude only. An example is

speed.

 vector – A quantity that has magnitude and direction.

Examples are velocity and momentum.

 velocity – The speed of an object in a given direction.

40 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Anagrams

41 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Multiple-choice quiz

42 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Momentum calculations

43 of 28 © Boardworks Ltd 2007