Conservation of Momentum
CONSERVATION OF LINEAR MOMENTUM According to the law of conservation of linear momentum, the total momentum in a system remains the same if no external forces act on the system.
ELASTIC AND INELASTIC COLLISIONS Elastic Collision: A collision in which objects collide and bounce apart with no energy loss. Inelastic Collision: A collision in which objects collide and some mechanical energy is transformed into heat energy.
The animation below portrays the inelastic collision between a 1000-kg car and a 3000-kg truck. The before- and after-collision velocities and momentum are shown in the data tables.
The animation below portrays the elastic collision between a 3000-kg truck and a 1000-kg car. The before- and after-collision velocities and momentum are shown in the data tables.
Before the collision, the momentum of the truck is Ns and the momentum of the car is 0 Ns; the total system momentum is Ns. After the collision, the momentum of the truck is Ns and the momentum of the car is Ns; the total system momentum is Ns.
The animation below portrays the inelastic collision between a very massive diesel and a less massive flatcar. The diesel has four times the mass of the freight car. After the collision, both the diesel and the flatcar move together with the same velocity.
A kg hockey puck moving at 48 m/s is caught by a 75-kg goalie at rest. With what velocity does the goalie slide on the ice after catching the puck? M 1 = kg M 2 = 75 kg V 1 = 48 m/s V 2 = 0 m/s p before = p after m 1 V 1 + m 2 V 2 = (m 1 +m 2 ) V f (0.105 kg)(48m/s) + (75kg)(0) = (0.105kg + 75Kg) V f Vf = m/s
A 0.50-kg ball traveling at 6.0 m/s collides head- on with a 1.00-kg ball moving in the opposite direction at a velocity of m/s. The 0.50-kg ball moves away at -14 m/s after the collision. Find the velocity of the second ball. M 1 = 0.50 kgM 2 = 1.00 kg V 1 = 6.0 m/sV 2 = m/sV f1 = -14 m/s p before = p after m 1 V 1 + m 2 V 2 = m 1 V f1 + m 2 V 2f (.5kg)(6m/s) + (1kg)(-12m/s) = (.5kg)(-14m/s) + (1kg)(V 2f ) V 2f = - 2 m/s
A 3000-kg truck moving rightward with a speed of 5 km/hr collides head-on with a 1000-kg car moving leftward with a speed of 10 km/hr. The two vehicles stick together and move with the same velocity after the collision. Determine the post-collision velocity of the car and truck. M 1 = 3000 kgM 2 = 1000 kg V 1 = 5.0 km/hrV 2 = -10 km/hr p before = p after m 1 V 1 + m 2 V 2 = (m 1 + m 2 )V f (3000kg)(5km/hr) + (1000kg)(-10km/hr) = (3000kg kg) Vf V f = 1.25 m/s, right