Momentum Part 2 By: Heather Britton
Conservation of Momentum The law of conservation of momentum states: The total momentum of an isolated system of bodies remains constant By system we mean a set of objects that interact with each other Isolated system means the only forces present are between the objects of the system
Conservation of Momentum If two people on rollerblades push off of each other the momentum one person has will equal the momentum of the other person Rockets are propelled by conservation of momentum The “kick” from firing a gun is conservation of momentum
Conservation of Momentum The law of conservation of momentum is very closely related to Newton’s third law of motion When one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force on the first The time the two objects are in contact is equal, so the change in momentum is equal but opposite (ΣFΔt = Δp)
Conservation of Momentum Object 1 2 System Initial momentum p1o p20 p1o + p20 Impulse +FΔt -FΔt Momentum change +Δp -Δp Final momentum p1 p2 p1 + p2
Conservation of Momentum po = p p10 + p2o = p1 + p2 m10v10 + m2ov2o = m1v1 + m2v2
Example 4 An astronaut at rest in space with a mass of 84 kg fires a thruster that expels 35 g of hot gas at 875 m/s. What is the velocity of the astronaut after firing the shot?
Collisions and Conservation of Momentum and Energy In a collision the law of conservation of momentum holds true The total momentum before the collision is the same as the momentum after the collision The total amount of energy is conserved as well Kinetic energy is not always conserved
Example 5 Glider A of mass 0.355 kg moves along a frictionless air track with a velocity of 0.095 m/s. It collides with gilder B of mass 0.710 kg moving in the same direction at a speed of 0.045 m/s. After the collision glider A continues in the same direction with a velocity of 0.035 m/s. What is the velocity of glider B after the collision?