momentum Flashcards
Equation for momentum
p = mv
(units in kg*m/s)
DELTA p = m * DELTA v
Define momentum (roughly)
“inertia in motion,” the way to quantify how hard it is to stop something
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units of p
kg * m/s
define impulse
capital I = delta p
the change in momentum
break down F = ma into delta p using time
F= m * (delta v/ delta t)
multiply by delta t on both sides
F* delta t = m* delta v
F* delta t = delta p
What does the area of graph of force vs. time equal? (force is changing over time)
change in momentum
units of change in momentum, or impulse I
F * delta t = delta p
N * s
the same as units of momentum (kg * m/s)
units of newton
kg * m/s^2
define the impulse approximation
DURING the time of impact, the force of impact is so much larger than the other forces that they can be considered negligible, and thus force of impact = net force
this only works when time of collision is very very small
use Newton’s second law and Impulse to explain how an airbag stops you from snapping your neck and cracking your skull and dying on the spot
Net F = ma (kgm/s^2)
this equation can be converted to the “momentum version” as so:
Net F = mchange in speed/change in time
Net F = m(Vfinal-Vinitial)/delta t
Net F = force of impact via impulse approximation
F(impact) * delta t = mVf - mvi
neither mass nor speed (with Vf = 0 and Vi and mass being the same regardless of airbag)
also, set m*delta v = delta p, or change in momentum, or IMPULSE
F(impact)* delta t = impulse
so impulse does not change, thus an increase time of impact (the helmet gives your head more time to transfer energy with the ground) results in a decreased force of impact
law of conservation of momentum
w/o an external force (often, but NOT ALWAYS gravity/friction), momentum is conserved from before and after ALL collisions
mathematically prove that momentum is conserved before and after a collision (assuming no external force)
NEWTONS 3RD LAW: forces are equal and opposite, thus F1 =
-F2, (note the negative as force is a vector) and as they share the same collision, t1 = t2
if Impulse = Ft, then: F1t1 = -F2t2
and if the impulese are equal and opposite, then:
m1(delta v1) = -m2(delta v2)
m1(v1f) - m1(v1i) = -m2(v2f) + m2(v2i)
and, adding the initial momentum of object 1 and final momentum of object 2 to both sides:
m1(v1f) + m2(v2f) = m1(v1i) + m2(v2i)
in words, this means that object 1’s initial momentum + object 2’s initial momentum = 1’s final + 2’s final momentums
or, in simplest terms,
the TOTAL initial momentum = TOTAL final momentum
WHEN does the law of conservation of momentum take effect?
during ALL collisions (elastic AND inelastic) and explosions
is kinetic energy or potential energy a vector?
no, this is why momentum can be conserved (net 0 if different directions) and ke might not be