Momentum Probs

Part A: Multiple-Multiple Choice
1. Which of the following statements are true about momentum?

a.
Momentum is a vector quantity.
b.
The standard unit on momentum is the Joule.
c.
An object with mass will have momentum.
d.
An object which is moving at a constant speed has momentum.
e.
An object can be traveling eastward and slowing down; its momentum is westward.
f.
Momentum is a conserved quantity; the momentum of an object is never changed.
g.
The momentum of an object varies directly with the speed of the object.
h.
Two objects of different mass are moving at the same speed; the more massive object will have the greatest
momentum.
i.
A less massive object can never have more momentum than a more massive object.
j.
Two identical objects are moving in opposite directions at the same speed. The forward moving object will
have the greatest momentum.
k.
An object with a changing speed will have a changing momentum.
Answer: ADGHK
a. TRUE - Momentum is a vector quantity. Like all vector quantities, the momentum of an
object is not fully described until the direction of the momentum is identified. Momentum,
like other vector quantities, is subject to the rules of vector operations.
b. FALSE - The Joule is the unit of work and energy. The kg m/s is the standard unit of
momentum.
c. FALSE - An object has momentum if it is moving. Having mass gives an object inertia.
When that inertia is in motion, the object has momentum.
d. TRUE - This is true. However, one should be quick to note that the object does not have
to have a constant speed in order to have momentum.
e. FALSE - The direction of an object's momentum vector is in the direction that the
object is moving. If an object is traveling eastward, then it has an eastward momentum. If
the object is slowing down, its momentum is still eastward. Only its acceleration would be
westward.
f. FALSE - To say that momentum is a conserved quantity is to say that if a system of
objects can be considered to be isolated from the impact of net external forces, then the
total momentum of that system is conserved. In the absence of external forces, the total
momentum of a system is not altered by a collision. However, the momentum of an
individual object is altered as momentum is transferred between colliding objects.
g. TRUE - Momentum is calculated as the product of mass and velocity. As the speed of
an object increases, so does its velocity. As a result, an increasing speed leads to an
increasing momentum - a direct relationship.
h. TRUE - For the same speed (and thus velocity), a more massive object has a greater
product of mass and velocity; it therefore has more momentum.
i. FALSE - A less massive object would have a greater momentum owing to a velocity
which is greater than that of the more massive object. Momentum depends upon two
quantities * mass and velocity. Both are equally important.
j. FALSE - When comparing the size of two momentum vectors, the direction is
insignificant. The direction of any vector would never enter into a size comparison.
k. TRUE - Objects with a changing speed also have a changing velocity. As such, an object
with a changing speed also has a changing momentum.
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Momentum
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2. Which of the following are true about the relationship between momentum end energy?
a.
Momentum is a form of energy.
b.
If an object has momentum, then it must also have mechanical energy.
c.
If an object does not have momentum, then it definitely does not have mechanical energy either.
d.
Object A has more momentum than object B. Therefore, object A will also have more kinetic energy.
e.
Two objects of varying mass have the same momentum. The least massive of the two objects will have the
greatest kinetic energy.
Answer: BE
a. FALSE - No. Momentum is momentum and energy is energy. Momentum is NOT a form
of energy; it is simply a quantity which proves to be useful in the analysis of situations
involving forces and impulses.
b. TRUE - If an object has momentum, then it is moving. If it is moving, then it has
kinetic energy. And if an object has kinetic energy, then it definitely has mechanical
energy.
c. FALSE - If an object does NOT have momentum, then it definitely does NOT have
kinetic energy. However, it could have some potential energy and thus have mechanical
energy.
d. FALSE - Consider Object A with a mass of 10 kg and a velocity of 3 m/s. And consider
Object B with a mass of 2 kg and a velocity of 10 m/s. Object A clearly has more
momentum. However, Object B has the greatest kinetic energy. The kinetic energy of A is
45 J and the kinetic energy of B is 100 J.
e. TRUE - When comparing the momentum of two objects to each other, one must
consider both mass and velocity; both are of equal importance when determining the
momentum value of an object. When comparing the kinetic energy of two objects, the
velocity of an object is of double importance. So if two objects of different mass have the
same momentum, then the object with the least mass has a greater velocity. This greater
velocity will tip the scales in favor of the least massive object when a kinetic energy
comparison is made.
Useful Web Links
Momentum
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3. Which of the following statements are true about impulse?

a.
Impulse is a force.
b.
Impulse is a vector quantity.
c.
An object which is traveling east would experience a westward directed impulse in a collision.
d.
Objects involved in collisions encounter impulses.
e.
The Newton is the unit for impulse.
f.
The kgm/s is equivalent to the units on impulse.
g.
An object which experiences a net impulse will definitely experience a momentum change.
h.
In a collision, the net impulse experienced by an object is equal to its momentum change.
i.
A force of 100 N acting for 0.1 seconds would provide an equivalent impulse as a force of 5 N acting for 2.0
seconds.
Answer: BDFGHI
a. FALSE - Impulse is NOT a force. Impulse is a quantity which depends upon both force
and time to change the momentum of an object. Impulse is a force acting over time.
b. TRUE - Impulse is a vector quantity Like momentum, impulse is not fully described
unless a direction is associated with it.
c. FALSE - An object which is traveling east could encounter a collision from the side,
from behind (by a faster-moving object) or from the front. The direction of the impulse is
dependent upon the direction of the force exerted upon the object. In each of these
scenarios, the direction of the force would be different.
d. TRUE - In a collision, there is a collision force which endures for some amount of time.
The combination of force and time is what is referred to as an impulse.
e. FALSE - The Newton is the unit of force. The standard metric unit of impulse is the Ns.
f. TRUE - The Ns is the unit of momentum. The Newton can be written as a kgm/s^2.
When substituted into the Ns expression, the result is the kg m/s.
g. TRUE - In a collision, there is a collision force which endures for some amount of time
to cause an impulse. This impulse acts upon the object to change its velocity and thus its
momentum.
h. TRUE - Yes!!! This is the impulse-momentum change theorem. The impulse
encountered by an object in a collision causes and is equal to the momentum change
experienced by that object.
i. TRUE - A force of 100 N for 0.10 s results in an impulse of 10 Ns. This 10 Ns impulse
is equivalent to the impulse created by a force of 5 N for 2.0 seconds.
Useful Web Links
Momentum and Impulse Connection
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4. Which of the following statements are true about collisions?

a.
Two colliding objects will exert equal forces upon each other even if their mass is significantly different.
b.
During a collision, an object always encounters an impulse and a change in momentum.
c.
During a collision, the impulse which an object experiences is equal to its velocity change.
d.
The velocity change of two respective objects involved in a collision will always be equal.
e.
While individual objects may change their velocity during a collision, the overall or total velocity of the colliding
objects is conserved.
f.
In a collision, the two colliding objects could have different acceleration values.
g.
In a collision between two objects of identical mass, the acceleration values could be different.
h.
Total momentum is always conserved between any two objects involved in a collision.
i.
When a moving object collides with a stationary object of identical mass, the stationary object encounters the
greater collision force.
j.
When a moving object collides with a stationary object of identical mass, the stationary object encounters the
greater momentum change.
k.
A moving object collides with a stationary object; the stationary object has significantly less mass. The
stationary object encounters the greater collision force.
l.
A moving object collides with a stationary object; the stationary object has significantly less mass. The
stationary object encounters the greater momentum change.
Answer: ABF
a. TRUE - In any collision between two objects, the colliding objects exert equal and
opposite force upon each other. This is simply Newton's law of action-reaction.
b. TRUE - In a collision, there is a collision force which endures for some amount of time
to cause an impulse. This impulse acts upon the object to change its momentum.
c. FALSE - The impulse encountered by an object is equal to mass multiplied by velocity
change - that is, momentum change.
d. FALSE - Two colliding objects will only experience the same velocity change if they
have the same mass and the collision occurs in an isolated system. However, their
momentum changes will be equal if the system is isolated from external forces.
e. FALSE - This statement is mistaking the term velocity for momentum. It is momentum
which is conserved by an isolated system of two or more objects.
f. TRUE - Two colliding objects will exert equal forces upon each other. If the objects have
different masses, then these equal forces will produce different accelerations.
g. FALSE - It the colliding objects have different masses, the equal force which they exert
upon each other will lead to different acceleration values for the two objects.
h. FALSE - Total momentum is conserved only if the collision can be considered isolated
from the influence of net external forces.

i. FALSE - In any collision, the colliding objects exert equal and opposite forces upon each
other as the result of the collision interaction. There are no exceptions to this rule.
j. FALSE - In any collision, the colliding objects will experience equal (and opposite)
momentum changes, provided that the collision occurs in an isolated system.
k. FALSE - In any collision, the colliding objects exert equal and opposite forces upon
each other as the result of the collision interaction. There are no exceptions to this rule.
l. FALSE - In any collision, the colliding objects will experience equal (and opposite)
momentum changes, provided that the collision occurs in an isolated system.
Useful Web Links

Momentum and Impulse Connection || The Law of Action-Reaction (Revisited)
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5. Which of the following statements are true about elastic and inelastic collisions?
a.
Perfectly elastic and perfectly inelastic collisions are the two opposite extremes along a continuum; where a
particular collision lies along the continuum is dependent upon the amount kinetic energy which is conserved
by the two objects.
b.
Most collisions tend to be partially to completely elastic.
c.
Momentum is conserved in an elastic collision but not in an inelastic collision.
d.
The kinetic energy of an object remains constant during an elastic collision.
e.
Elastic collisions occur when the collision force is a non-contact force.
f.
Most collisions are not inelastic because the collision forces cause energy of motion to be transformed into
sound, light and thermal energy (to name a few).
g.
A ball is dropped from rest and collides with the ground. The higher that the ball rises upon collision with the
ground, the more elastic that the collision is.
h.
A moving air track glider collides with a second stationary glider of identical mass. The first glider loses all of
its kinetic energy during the collision as the second glider is set in motion with the same original speed as the
first glider. Since the first glider lost all of its kinetic energy, this is a perfectly inelastic collision.
i.
The collision between a tennis ball and a tennis racket tends to be more elastic in nature than a collision
between a halfback and linebacker in football.
Answer: AEFGI
a. TRUE - A perfectly elastic collision is a collision in which the total kinetic energy of the system of colliding objects is
conserved. Such collisions are typically characterized by bouncing or repelling from a distance. In a perfectly inelastic
collision (as it is sometimes called), the two colliding objects stick together and move as a single unit after the collision.
Such collisions are characterized by large losses in the kinetic energy of the system.
b. FALSE - Few collisions are completely elastic. A completely elastic collision occurs only when the collision force is a noncontact force. Most collisions are either perfectly inelastic or partially inelastic.
c. FALSE - Momentum can be conserved in both elastic and inelastic collisions provided that the system of colliding objects
is isolated from the influence of net external forces. It is kinetic energy that is conserved in a perfectly elastic collision.
d. FALSE - In a perfectly elastic collision, in an individual object may gain or lose kinetic energy. It is the system of
colliding objects which conserves kinetic energy.
e. TRUE - Kinetic energy is lost from a system of colliding objects because the collision transforms kinetic energy into
other forms of energy - sound, heat and light energy. When the colliding objects don't really collide in the usual sense (that
is when the collision force is a non-contact force), the system of colliding objects does not lose its kinetic energy. Sound is
only produced when atoms of one object make contact with atoms of another object. And objects only warm up
(converting mechanical energy into thermal energy) when their surfaces meet and atoms at those surfaces are set into
vibrational motion or some kind of motion.
f. TRUE - See above statement.
g. TRUE - If large amounts of kinetic energy are conserved when a ball collides with the ground, then the post-collision
velocity is high compared to the pre-collision velocity. The ball will thus rise to a height which is nearer to its initial height.
h. FALSE - This is a perfectly elastic collision. Before the collision, all the kinetic energy is in the first glider. After the
collision, the first glider has no kinetic energy; yet the second glider has the same mass and velocity as the first glider. As
such, the second glider has the kinetic energy which the first glider once had.
i. TRUE - There is significant bounce in the collision between a tennis racket and tennis ball. There is typically little bounce
in the collision between a halfback and a linebacker (though there are certainly exceptions to this one). Thus, the ballracket collision tends to be more elastic.
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Momentum
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Part B: Multiple Choice

6. Which of the following objects have momentum? Include all that apply.
a. An electron is orbiting the nucleus of an atom.
b. A UPS truck is stopped in front of the school building.
c. A Yugo (a compact car) is moving with a constant speed.
d. A small flea walking with constant speed across Fido's back.
e. The high school building rests in the middle of town.
Answer: A, C, and D
Momentum can be thought of as mass in motion. An object has momentum if it has its
mass in motion. It matters not whether the object is of large mass or small mass, moving
with constant speed or accelerating; if the object is MOVING, then it has momentum!
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Momentum
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7. A truck driving along a highway road has a large quantity of momentum. If it moves at the same speed but has twice as
much mass, its momentum is ________________.
a. zero
b. quadrupled
c. doubled
d. unchanged
Answer: C
Momentum is directly related to the mass of the object. So for the same speed, a doubling
of mass leads to a doubling of momentum.
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Momentum
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8. TRUE or FALSE:
A ball is dropped from the same height upon various flat surfaces. For the same collision time, impulses are smaller when
the most bouncing take place.
a. True
Answer: B
b. False
Since being dropped from the same height, the balls will be moving with the same pre-collision velocity (assuming
negligible air resistance). Upon collision with the ground, the velocity will have to be reduced to zero - that is, the ball will
cease moving downwards. This decrease in velocity constitutes the first portion of the velocity change. If the ball bounces,
then there is an additional velocity change sending the ball back upwards opposite the original direction. Thus, for the
same collision time, bouncing involves a greater velocity change, a greater momentum change, and therefore a greater
impulse.
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Real-World Applications
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9. Consider a karate expert. During a talent show, she executes a swift blow to a cement block and breaks it with her bare
hand. During the collision between her hand and the block, the ___.
a.
time of impact on both the block and the expert's hand is the same
b.
force on both the block and the expert's hand have the same magnitude
c.
impulse on both the block and the expert's hand have the same magnitude
d.
all of the above.
e.
none of the above.
Answer: D
In any collision, there are always four quantities which are the same for both objects involved in the collision. Each object
experiences the same force (Newton's third law) for the same amount of time, leading to the same impulse, and
subsequently the same momentum change. Only the acceleration and the velocity change can differ for the two colliding
objects. The lower mass object always receives the greater velocity change and acceleration.
Useful Web Links

Momentum Conservation Principle
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10. It is NOT possible for a rocket to accelerate in outer space because ____. List all that apply.
a.
there is no air in space
b.
there is no friction in space
c.
there is no gravity in outer space
d.
... nonsense! Rockets do accelerate in outer space.
Answer: D
Rockets accelerate in outer space by means of Newton's third law of motion. It does not matter that there is no air outside
of the rocket. Rockets produce their own gas by burning fuels. The combustion of rocket fuels produces gaseous products.
The rocket's thrusters push these gases backwards (or rightwards, or leftwards, or ...) and the gases push the rocket
forwards (or leftwards, or rightwards, or ...). Thus, rockets indeed can and do accelerate in outer space.
Useful Web Links

The Law of Action-Reaction (Revisited)
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11. In order to catch a ball, a baseball player naturally moves his or her hand backward in the direction of the ball's motion
once the ball contacts the hand. This habit causes the force of impact on the players hand to be reduced in size principally
because ___.
a.
the resulting impact velocity is lessened
b.
the momentum change is decreased
c.
the time of impact is increased
d.
the time of impact is decreased
e.
none of these
Answer: C
Increasing the time over which the ball's momentum is brought to 0 will decrease the force required to stop it. Suppose a
ball is coming at you with 100-units of momentum. An impulse of 100-units would be required to stop the ball. Regardless
of how the impulse is accomplished (big F, little t or little F, big t), there must be 100-units of it. Imparting such an impulse
over a long time results in a small force.
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12. Suppose that Paul D. Trigger fires a bullet from a gun. The speed of the bullet leaving the muzzle will be the same as
the speed of the recoiling gun ____.
a.
because momentum is conserved
b.
because velocity is conserved
c.
because both velocity and momentum are conserved
d.
only if the mass of the bullet equals the mass of the gun
e.
none of these
Answer: D
In any collision or explosion involving two objects, the momentum change for each object is the same. So both the bullet
and the gun encounter the same momentum change. The momentum change is simply the mass multiplied by the velocity
change. Thus, the velocity change would only be the same if their masses were the same. Otherwise, the smaller-mass
object receives a greater velocity change.
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13. Suppose that you're driving down the highway and a moth crashes into the windshield of your car. Which undergoes
the greater change is momentum?
a. the moth
b. your car
c. both the same
Answer: C
subsequently the same momentum change. Only the acceleration and the velocity change can differ for the two objects.
The object with the least mass always receives the greatest velocity change and acceleration.
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the greater force?
a. the moth
b. your car
c. both the same
Answer: C
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the greater impulse?
a. the moth
b. your car
c. both the same
Answer: C
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the greater acceleration?
a. the moth
Answer: A
b. your car
c. both the same
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17. Three boxes, X, Y, and Z, are at rest on a table as shown in

the diagram at the right. The weight of each box is indicated in
the diagram. The net or unbalanced force acting on box Y is
_____.
a. 4 N down
b. 5 N down
c. 5 N up
d. 10 N up
e. zero
Answer: E
If an object is at rest, then all the forces acting upon the object must be zero. The net force on any one of the boxes is 0
Newtons. Subsequently, in each case, the support force (which we have called the "normal force throughout this course)
acting upwards on any of the boxes must be equal to the force of gravity on that box (i.e., the weight) plus the amount of
load exerted from above (which would be equivalent to the weight of the other boxes located above the box). So for box Y,
the support force acting upward would be equal to 9 N while the net force is still 0 Newtons. And for box Z, the support
force is 19 N, sufficient to balance the 10-N gravitational force plus the 9-N of force resulting from the other two boxes
bearing down on it.
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Net Force
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18. In a physics experiment, two equal-mass carts roll towards each other on a level, low-friction track. One cart rolls
rightward at 2 m/s and the other cart rolls leftward at 1 m/s. After the carts collide, they couple (attach together) and roll
together with a speed of _____________. Ignore resistive forces.
a. 0.5 m/s
b. 0.33 m/s
c. 0.67 m/s
d. 1.0 m/s
e. none of these
Answer: A
Use 1 kg as the mass of the carts (or any number you wish) and then set the expression
for initial total momentum equal to the expression for the final total momentum:
(1 kg)*(2) + (1 kg) *(-1) = (1 kg) *v + (1 kg) *v
Now solve for v using the proper algebraic steps.
(2 kgm/s) - (1 kgm/s) = (2 kg) v
1 kgm/s = (2 kg)v
(1 kgm/s) / (2 kg) = v
0.5 m/s = v
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Momentum Conservation Principle || Using the Momentum Equation as a Guide to Thinking
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19. A physics cart rolls along a low-friction track with considerable momentum. If it rolls at the same speed but has twice
as much mass, its momentum is ____.
a. zero
b. four times as large
c. twice as large
d. unchanged
Answer: C
The momentum of an object is calculated as the product of mass and velocity. Thus, the
momentum is directly proportional to the mass of the object. If the mass of an object is
somehow doubled, the momentum is doubled as well.
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Using the Momentum Equation as a Guide to Thinking
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20. The firing of a bullet by a rifle causes the rifle to recoil backwards. The speed of the rifle's recoil is smaller than the
bullet's forward speed because the ___.
a. force against the rifle is relatively small
b. speed is mainly concentrated in the bullet
c. rifle has lots of mass
d. momentum of the rifle is unchanged
e. none of these
Answer: C
Please don't answer A (for it will make Newton roll over in his grave and he's getting quite tired of that). Perhaps you've
heard that "for every action, there is an equal and opposite ...". Choice B is invalid; speed is not something that becomes
concentrated or squeezed into an object. Choice D is invalid; ask anyone who's fired a rifle if the rifle is set into motion by
the firing of the bullet. (Of course, since it is set in motion, its momentum is not unchanged.) Because of the large mass of
the rifle, the acceleration and the recoil speed of the rifle is small.
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Momentum Conservation Principle || Momentum Conservation in Explosions
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21. Two objects, A and B, have the same size and shape. Object A is twice as massive as B. The objects are simultaneously
dropped from a high window on a tall building. (Neglect the effect air resistance.) The objects will reach the ground at the
same time but object A will have a greater ___. Choose all that apply.
a. speed
b. acceleration
c. momentum
d. none of the above quantities will be greater
Answer: C
The two objects free-fall at the same rate of acceleration, thus giving them the same
speed when they hit the ground. The heavier object however has more momentum since
momentum takes into account both the speed and the mass of the object (p=m*v).
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The Acceleration of Gravity || Momentum
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22. Cars are equipped with padded dashboards. In collisions, the padded dashboards would be safer than non-padded ones
because they ____. List all that apply.
a. increase the impact time
b. decrease an occupant's impulse
c. decrease the impact force
d. none of the above
Answer: AC
Both A and C are correct. Padded dashboard serve to increase the time over which the momentum of a passenger is
reduced to zero. With this increase in time, there is a decrease in force (big T, little f).
The impulse acting upon the passenger is not changed. The passenger still must have his/her mass slowed down from the
pre-impact velocity to zero velocity. This means the velocity change is the same whether the collision occurs with a padded
dashboard, an air bag or a glass windshield. Since the velocity change is independent of the collision time, the momentum
change and the required impulse are also independent of the collision time.
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23. A 4 kg object has a momentum of 12 kgm/s. The object's speed is ___ m/s.
a. 3
b. 4
c. 12
d. 48
e. none of these.
Answer: A
This is a relatively simple plug-and-chug into the equation p=m*v with m=4 kg and p=12
kgm/s.
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Momentum
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24. A wad of chewed bubble gum is moving with 1 unit of momentum when it collides with a heavy box that is initially at
rest. The gum sticks to the box and both are set in motion with a combined momentum that is ___.
a. less than 1 unit
b. 1 unit
c. more than 1 unit
d. not enough information
Answer: B
Before the collision, the total system momentum is 1 unit - all due to the motion of the
wad of gum. Since momentum must be conserved, the total momentum of the box and
gum after the collision must also be 1 unit.
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25. A relatively large force acting for a relatively long amount of time on a relatively small mass will produce a relatively
______. List all that apply.
a. small velocity change
b. large velocity change
c. small momentum change
d. small acceleration
Answer: B
A large force acting upon a small mass will result in a large acceleration (a=F/m) and subsequently a large velocity change
(Delta v = a*t). This rules out choices A and D. A large force and for a long time will result in a large impulse and therefore
a large momentum change. This rules out choice C.
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26. Consider the concepts of work and energy (presuming you have already studied it) and those of impuse and
momentum. Force and time is related to momentum change in the same manner as force and displacement pertains to
___________.
a. impulse
b. work
c. energy change
d. velocity
e. none of these.
Answer: C
A force multiplied by a time gives an impulse which will cause (and be equal to) a momentum change. In the same
manner, a force multiplied by a displacement gives work which will cause (and be equal to) an energy change. Take the
time to reread those two sentences because it relates two big concepts.
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Momentum and Impulse Connection || Analysis of Situations Involving External Forces
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27. A 5-N force is applied to a 3-kg ball to change its velocity from +9 m/s to +3 m/s. This impulse causes the momentum
change of the ball to be ____ kgm/s.
a. -2.5
b. -10
c. -18
d. -45
e. none of these
Answer: C
Don't make this harder than it is; the momentum change of an object can be found if the mass and the velocity change are
known. In this equation, m=3 kg and the velocity change is -6 m/s. When finding the velocity change, always subtract the
initial velocity from the final velocity (vf - vi).
There is a second means of determining the momentum change of an object (though it does not need to be used in this
problem). The momentum change can also be found if the force and the time are known. Multiplying force*time yields the
impulse and the impulse equals the momentum change.
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28. A 5-N force is applied to a 3-kg ball to change its velocity from +9 m/s to +3 m/s. The impulse experienced by the ball
is ____ Ns.
a. -2.5
b. -10
c. -18
d. -45
e. none of these
Answer: C
Impulse is defined as a force acting upon and object for a given amount of time. Impulse can be computed by multiplying
force*time. But in this problem, the time is not known. Never fear - the impulse equals the momentum change. The
momentum change in this problem is -18 kgm/s (see question #27). Thus, the impulse is -18 Ns.
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29. A 5-N force is applied to a 3-kg ball to change its velocity from +9 m/s to +3 m/s. The impulse is encountered by the
ball for a time of ____ seconds.
a. 1.8
b. 2.5
c. 3.6
d. 10
e. none of these
Answer: C
Use the impulse momentum change theorem with F=5 N, m=3 kg and Delta v=-6 m/s.
Solving for time involves the following steps.
t = m*(delta v)/F = (3 kg)*(-6 m/s) / (5 N)
t = 3.6 s
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30. When a mass M experiences a velocity change of v in a time of t, it experiences a force of F. Assuming the same
velocity change of v, the force experienced by a mass of2M in a time of (1/2)t is ____.
a. 2F
b. 4F
c. (1/2)*F
d. (1/4)*F
e. none of these
Answer: B
The impulse-momentum change theorem states that F*t = m*(Delta vel.). This equation can be rearranged to locate the F
by itself on one side of the equation; rearranging yields
F = m*(Delta vel.)/t
The equation shows that force is directly related to the mass, directly related to the change in velocity, and inversely
related to the time. So any change in mass will result in the same change in force; and any change in time will result in the
inverse effect upon the force. In this case, doubling the mass (from M to 2M) will double the force and halving the time
(from t to 1/2-t) will double the force. The combined effect of these two changes will make the new force four times bigger
than the old force. This is a case of where equations can be a guide to thinking about how a change in one variable (or two
variables) impacts other dependent variables.
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velocity change of v, the force experienced by a mass of2M in a time of (1/4)t is ____.
a. 2F
b. 8F
c. (1/2)*F
d. (1/8)*F
e. none of these
Answer: B
inverse effect upon the force. In this case, doubling the mass (from M to 2M) will double the force and quartering the time
(from t to 1/4-t) will quadruple the force. The combined effect of these two changes will make the new force eight times
bigger than the old force. This is a case of where equations can be a guide to thinking about how a change in one variable
(or two variables) impacts other dependent variables.
Useful Web Links
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#17 | #18 | #19 | #20 | #21 | #22 | #23 | #24 | #25| #26 | #27 | #28 | #29 | #30 | #3
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#60 | #61 | #62 | #63 | #64 | #65 | #66 | #67 | #68 | #69 | #70 | #71| #72 ]
velocity change of v, the force experienced by a mass of(1/2)M in a time of (1/2)t is ____.
a. 2F
b. 4F
c. (1/2)*F
d. (1/4)*F
e. none of these
Answer: E
inverse effect upon the force. In this case, halving the mass (from M to 1/2-M) will half the force and halving the time
(from t to 1/2-t) will double the force. The combined effect of these two changes will make the new force the same size as
the old force. This is a case of where equations can be a guide to thinking about how a change in one variable (or two
variables) impacts other dependent variables.
Useful Web Links

[ #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 | #9 | #10 | #11 | #12 | #13 |#14 | #15 | #16 |

#17 | #18 | #19 | #20 | #21 | #22 | #23 | #24 | #25| #26 | #27 | #28 | #29 | #30 | #3
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#46 | #47 | #48| #49 | #50 | #51 | #52 | #53 | #54 | #55 | #56 | #57 | #58 | #59 |
#60 | #61 | #62 | #63 | #64 | #65 | #66 | #67 | #68 | #69 | #70 | #71| #72 ]
velocity change of v, the force experienced by a mass of(1/2)M in a time of 4t is ____.
a. 2F
b. 8F
c. (1/2)*F
d. (1/8)*F
e. none of these
Answer: D
inverse effect upon the force. In this case, halving the mass (from M to 1/2-M) will halve the force and quadrupling the
time (from t to 4t) will quarter the force. The combined effect of these two changes will make the new force eight times
smaller (i.e., one-eighth the size) than the old force. This is a case of where equations can be a guide to thinking about
how a change in one variable (or two variables) impacts other dependent variables.
Useful Web Links

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34. A 0.5-kg ball moving at 5 m/s strikes a wall and rebounds in the opposite direction with a speed of 2 m/s. If the
impulse occurs for a time duration of 0.01 s, then the average force (magnitude only) acting upon the ball is ____
Newtons.
a. 0.14
b. 150
c. 350
d. 500
e. none of these
Answer: C
This is a relatively simple plug-and-chug into the equation
F*t = m*(Delta vel.)
with m=0.5 kg, t=0.01 s and Delta vel.=-7 m/s. (The change in velocity is -7 m/s since the ball must first slow down from
5 m/s to 0 m/s and then be thrown back in the opposite direction at 2 m/s.) Using these numbers and solving for force
yields -350 N. The magnitude of the force is 350 N and the "-" sign indicates the direction of the force.
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35. If mass and collision time are equal, then impulses are greater on objects which rebound (or bounce).
a. TRUE
Answer: A
b. FALSE
The impulse is equal to the momentum change. And when there is a rebound, the momentum change is larger since there
is a larger velocity change. For instance, a ball thrown at a wall at 5 m/s may rebound at -3 m/s yielding a velocity change
of -8 m/s. An egg thrown at the same wall at the same speed of 5 m/s hits and stops, thus yielding a velocity change of -5
m/s. More velocity change means more momentum change and thus more impulse.
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36. Consider the head-on collision between a lady bug and the windshield of a high speed bus. Which of the following
statements are true? List all that apply.
a.
The magnitude of the force encountered by the bug is greater than that of the bus.
b.
The magnitude of the impulse encountered by the bug is greater than that of the bus.
c.
The magnitude of the momentum change encountered by the bug is greater than that of the bus.
d.
The magnitude of the velocity change encountered by the bug is greater than that of the bus.
e.
The magnitude of the acceleration encountered by the bug is greater than that of the bus.
Answer: D and E
In any collision between two objects, the force, impulse, and momentum change are the
same for each object. (This makes statements A, B, and C false.) However, the smaller
mass object encounters a greater acceleration and velocity change. (This makes
statements D and E true).
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Part C: Diagramming and Analysis

For Questions #37-#40: Consider the before- and after-collision momentum vectors in the diagram below. Determine
the magnitude and direction of the system momentum before and after the collision and identify whether or not
momentum is conserved. Finally, determine the magnitude and direction of the net external impulse encountered by the
system during the collision.
37.
System Momentum Before Collision:

System Momentum After Collision:
Is momentum conserved?
Net External Impulse During Collision:
30 kgm/s, right
30 kgm/s, right
Yes
0N
Answer: See table above.

Before the collision, the two momentum values can be added: 30 units + 0 = 30 units. (An object at rest has zero momentum.) After the collision, the
momentum vectors can be added: 30 units + 0 = 30 units. In each case, the total momentum is in the direction of the arrows. Since the total system
momentum before the collision is the same as it is after the collision, the total momentum of the system can be considered to be conserved. As such, there is
no net external impulse upon the system. It is considered isolated.
38.

15 kgm/s, right
15 kgm/s, right
Yes
0 Ns

The dark ball has a leftward momentum, so its momentum must be assigned a - sign to distinguish its momentum from the rightward momentum of the
light-colored ball. So before the collision, the system has +25 units + -10 units of momentum - a total of +15 units. After the collision, the total momentum
of the system is + 15 units (the "+" is the designated sign for a rightward momentum). Since the system momentum is the same before as after the collision,
momentum is conserved and the system is considered isolated from net external impulses.
39.
30 kgm/s, right

10 kgm/s, left
No
40 Ns, left

Since the light-colored ball has a leftward momentum, the leftward direction will be designated as the negative direction. Thus, the before- and aftercollision calculations are:
Before: +30 units + 0 units = +30 units
After: -20 units + 10 units = -10 units
The total momentum of the system has changed by -40 units. Thus, momentum is not conserved and the system experiences a net external impulse of -40
units or 40 Ns, leftward.
40.

50 kgm/s, right
45 kgm/s, right
No
5 Ns, left

The summations of system momentum before and after the collision are:
Before: +30 units + +20 units = +50 units.
After: +18 units + +27 units = +45 units.
The system loses 5 units of momentum. Thus, momentum is not conserved. There must be a net external impulse of -5 units upon the system. That impulse
is 5 Ns, left. (The left is equivalent to saying negative.)
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For Questions #41-#44: Repeat the procedure performed in Questions #37-#40. Note that these diagrams give
velocity and mass values before and after the collision.
41.

3 kgm/s, right
3 kgm/s, right
Yes
0 Ns

Before Collision: 1 kg) * (+2 m/s) + (1 kg) * (1 m/s ) = 3 kg m/s
After Collision: (1 kg) * (1 m/s) + (1 kg) * (2 m/s ) = 3 kg m/s
The total system momentum is the same before and after the collision. Thus, momentum
is conserved and there is no net external impulse on the system.
42.

8 kgm/s, right
10 kgm/s, right
No
2 Ns, right

Before Collision: (2 kg) * (2 m/s) + (4 kg) * (1 m/s ) = 8 kg m/s
The total system momentum is NOT the same before and after the collision. Thus, momentum is NOT conserved.
There is a net external impulse on the system which is equal to the momentum change of the system. The net
external impulse is +2 kgm/s.
43.

10 kgm/s, right
10 kgm/s, right
Yes
0 Ns

The total system momentum is the same before and after the collision. Thus, momentum
is conserved and there is no net external impulse on the system.
44.

0 kgm/s
0 kgm/s
Yes
0 Ns

Before Collision: (5 kg) * (2 m/s) + (2 kg) * (-5 m/s ) = 0 kg m/s
The total system momentum is the same before and after the collision. Thus, momentum is conserved and there is no net external impulse on the system.
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For Questions #45-#49, determine the unknown velocity value. Assume that the collisions occur in an isolated system.
General Note about Questions #45-#49:
In each of these problems, an expression for the total momentum before the collision is written by summing the product of
mass and velocity for each object. The same is done with the total momentum after the collision. One must be careful to
assign a negative momentum to any object which is moving leftward. When the velocity of an object is not known, the
variable v should be placed in the expression in place of the actual velocity value. The two expressions for total momentum
before and after the collision are set equal to each other and algebraic operations are used to determine the unknown
velocities. This method is shown below.
45.
Answer: 6 m/s
After Collision: (6 kg) * v + (4 kg) * (10 m/s ) = (6 kg) * v + 40 kg m/s
(In the following steps, the units are dropped so that the algebra can be more easily
followed.)
76 = 6v + 40
36 = 6v
v = 6 m/s
46.
Answer: 7 m/s
Before Collision: (4 kg) * (8 m/s) + (2 kg) * (5 m/s ) =
After Collision: (4 kg) * v + (2 kg) * v
followed.)
42 = 6 * v
v = 7 m/s
47.
Answer: 9 m/s
After Collision: (3 kg) * (-2 m/s) + (2 kg) * v = -6 kg m/s + (2 kg) * v
followed.)
12 = -6 + 2v
18 = 2v
v = 9 m/s
48.
Answer: 4 m/s
After Collision: (4 kg) * (-2 m/s) + (3 kg) * v = -8 kg m/s+ (3 kg) * v
followed.)
4 = -8 + 3v
12 = 3v
v = 4 m/s
49.
Answer: 11.3 m/s

After Collision: (4 kg) * (-4 m/s) + (3 kg) * v = -16 kg m/s + (3 kg) * v
(In the following steps, the units are dropped so that the algebra can be more easily followed.)
18 = -16 + 3v
34.0 = 3v
v = 11.3 m/s
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For Questions #50-#52, determine the total kinetic energy of the system before and after the collision and identify the
collision as being either perfectly elastic, partially inelastic/elastic or perfectly inelastic.
50.
Total System Kinetic Energy Before Collision:
50 J
Total System Kinetic Energy After Collision:

Perfectly Elastic, Partially Inelastic/Elastic or Perfectly Inelastic?
50 J
Perfectly Elastic

Before Collision: KEtotal = 0.5(4 kg)(5 m/s)2 + 0.5(4 kg)(0 m/s)2 = 50 J
After Collision: KEtotal = 0.5(4 kg)(0 m/s)2 + 0.5(4 kg)(5 m/s)2 = 50 J
The system kinetic energy is conserved in this collision. That is, the total kinetic energy is the same before the
collision as after the collision. The critical requirement for a collision to be perfectly elastic is that the total system
kinetic energy is conserved. Thus, this collision is a perfectly elastic collision.
51.

36 J
12 J
Perfectly Inelastic

Before Collision: KEtotal = 0.5(4 kg)(4 m/s)2 + 0.5(2 kg)(-2 m/s)2 = 36 J
The system kinetic energy is NOT conserved in this collision. That is, the total kinetic energy is NOT the same before the collision as after the collision.
The critical requirement for a collision to be perfectly inelastic is that the colliding objects move as a single unit with the same velocity after the collision.
These objects do "stick together" after the collision and move as a single unit at the same velocity. Thus, the collision is a perfectly inelastic collision.
52.

183 J
153 J
Partially
Inelastic/Elastic

Before Collision: KEtotal = 0.5(10 kg)(6 m/s)2 + 0.5(6 kg)(1 m/s)2 = 183 J
The system kinetic energy is NOT conserved in this collision. That is, the total kinetic energy is NOT the same before the collision as after the collision.
Thus, the collision does not meet the criterion for a perfectly elastic collision. The objets do NOT "stick together" after the collision; they move with
different speeds. Thus, the collision does not meet the criterion for a perfectly inelastic collision. This collision is a partially inelastic/elastic collision.
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Part D: Qualitative Relationships Between Variables

53. An object with a mass M and a velocity v has a momentum of 32 kgm/s. An object with a mass of ...
a.
.. 2M and a velocity of 2v would have a momentum of 64 kgm/s.
b.
... 2M and a velocity of 0.5v would have a momentum of 32 kgm/s.
c.
... 0.5M and a velocity of 2v would have a momentum of 32 kgm/s.
d.
... 0.5M and a velocity of 0.5v would have a momentum of 8 kgm/s.
e.
... 4M and a velocity of v would have a momentum of 128 kgm/s.
f.
... 4M and a velocity of 0.5v would have a momentum of 64 kgm/s.
g.
... 0.5M and a velocity of 4v would have a momentum of 64 kgm/s.
h.
... 3M and a velocity of 2v would have a momentum of 192 kgm/s.
Answer: See Answers above.

Momentum is the product of mass and velocity. As such, the momentum of an object is directly proportional to the mass
and directly proportional to the velocity. If the mass of an object is altered by some factor, then the momentum of the
object is altered by that same factor. So if the mass is doubled, the momentum is doubled; the new value would be two
times the original value. And if the mass is tripled, then the momentum is tripled; the new value would be three times the
original value. If the velocity of an object is altered by some factor, then the momentum of the object is altered by that
same factor. So if the velocity is doubled, the momentum is doubled; the new value would be two times the original value.
And if the velocity is tripled, then the momentum is tripled; the new value would be three times the original value. This is
shown in the work below.
a. New value = 32 kg m/s 2 2 = 128 kgm/s
b. New value = 32 kg m/s 2 0.5 = 32 kgm/s
c. New value = 32 kg m/s 0.5 2 = 32 kgm/s
d. New value = 32 kg m/s 0.5 0.5 = 8 kgm/s
e. New value = 32 kg m/s 4 1 = 128 kgm/s
f. New value = 32 kg m/s 4 0.5 = 64 kgm/s

g. New value = 32 kg m/s 0.5 4 = 64 kgm/s
h. New value = 32 kg m/s 3 2 = 192 kgm/s
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54. An object with a mass M and a velocity v undergoes a collision and encounters a force of F for a time of t. The collision
brings the object to a final rest position ...
a.
... If the object had a mass of 2M and a velocity of v, then it would need an impulse which is 2 Ft in order to
be brought to rest.
b.
... If the same object encountered a force of 2F, then it would bring it to rest in a time of 0.5 t, The impulse
would be the same size and the momentum change would be the same size.
c.
... If the same object encountered a force of 10F, then it would bring it to rest in a time of 0.1 t, The impulse
would be the same size and the momentum change would be the same size.
d.
... If the same object encountered a force of 0.2F, then it would bring it to rest in a time of 5 t, The impulse
would be the same (size and the momentum change would be the same size.
e.
... If the object had a mass of 2M and a velocity of v encountered a force of 4F, then it would be brought to
rest in a time of 0.5 t. The impulse would be 2times the original impulse and the momentum change would
be 2 times the original impulse.
f.
... If the object had a mass of 2M and a velocity of 2v encountered a force of4F, then it would be brought to
rest in a time of 1.0 t. The impulse would be 4times the original impulse and the momentum change would
g.
... If the object had a mass of 0.5M and a velocity of 4v encountered a force of2F, then it would be brought
to rest in a time of 1.0 t. The impulse would be 2times the original impulse and the momentum change would

In a collision, the impulse encountered by an object causes and is equal to the momentum change of the object. For
objects being brought to rest, the change in momentum is simply equal to the original momentum. An object with twice
the momentum would require twice the impulse to stop it. An object with one-half the momentum would require one-half
the impulse to stop it. The momentum is the product of mass and velocity, so any alteration in the mass or the velocity or
both would alter the required impulse by that same factor. The impulse results from a force acting over time and is the
product of force and time. So twice the impulse can be achieved by the same force acting for twice the time or twice the
force acting for the same time or even one-half the force acting for four times the time. These principles are illustrated
below.
a. Two times the mass means two times the original momentum. Two times the impulse would be required to stop an
object with two times the momentum.
b. If the same object with the same momentum (Mv) were stopped by twice the original force, then only one-half the
original time would be required to stop it. Since the momentum change has not been altered in this case (an object with a
momentum of Mv is still being stopped), the impulse is not altered either.
c. If the same object with the same momentum (Mv) were stopped by ten times the original force, then only one-tenth
the original time would be required to stop it. Since the momentum change has not been altered in this case (an object
with a momentum of Mv is still being stopped), the impulse is not altered either.
d. If the same object with the same momentum (M) were stopped by one-fifth the original force, then five times the
original time would be required to stop it. Since the momentum change has not been altered in this case (an object with a
momentum of Mv is still being stopped), the impulse is not altered either.
e. If an object with twice the mass is being stopped, then twice the momentum change would occur. Two times the
momentum change means that an impulse which is two times the original impulse would be required. To achieve two times
the impulse, the product of force and time must be doubled. Since the force is four times bigger, the time needs to be onehalf the original time.
f. If an object with twice the mass and twice the velocity is being stopped, then four times the momentum change would
occur. Four times the momentum change means that an impulse which is four times the original impulse would be
required. To achieve four times the impulse, the product of force and time must be quadrupled. Since the force is four
times bigger, the time needs to be the same as the original time.
g. If an object with one-half the mass and four times the velocity is being stopped, then twice the momentum change
would occur. Two times the momentum change means that an impulse which is two times the original impulse would be
required. To achieve two times the impulse, the product of force and time must be doubled. Since the force is two times
bigger, the time needs to be the same as the original time.
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55. Two carts are placed next to each other on a low-friction track. The carts are equipped with a spring-loaded mechanism
which allows them to impart an impulse to each other. Cart A has a mass of M and Cart B has a mass of M. The springloaded mechanism is engaged and then released. The impulse causes Cart A to be propelled forward with a velocity of 40
cm/s.
a.
Cart B will be propelled backward with a velocity of 40 cm/s.
b.
... If Cart B had a mass of 2M then it would be propelled backwards with a velocity of 20 cm/s.
c.
... If Cart B had a mass of 0.5M then it would be propelled backwards with a velocity of 80 cm/s.
d.
... If Cart B has a mass of 2M then it would be propelled backwards with a momentum which is the same as
the original momentum.
e.
... If Cart B has a mass of 2M then it would encounter an impulse which is the same as the original impulse.

Cart A and Cart B begin at rest. The original momentum of the system is 0 units. If momentum is to be conserved, the
total momentum of the system of two carts must also be 0 units. This means that the momentum of Cart A must have the
same magnitude as the momentum of Cart B. That is, after the spring is released, the product of mass and velocity for
Cart A must equal the product of mass and velocity for Cart B. This principle is illustrated in the reasoning below.
a. Since the two carts have the same mass, they must also have the same velocity in order to have the same magnitude of
momentum. The post-explosion velocity of Cart B is 40 cm/s.
b. If Cart B has twice the mass as Cart A, then it must be propelled backwards with one-half the velocity. The postexplosion velocity of Cart B is 20 cm/s.
c. If Cart B has one-half the mass As Cart A, then it must be propelled backwards with two times the velocity. The post-
explosion velocity of Cart B is80 cm/s.

d. Changing the mass of either one of the carts does not alter the impulse or the momentum change which it experiences.
An alteration in the mass merely alters the velocity with which the cart is propelled. A twice-as-massive cart acquires onehalf the original velocity but the momentum change is the same as the original momentum change.
e. Changing the mass of either one of the carts does not alter the impulse or the momentum change which it experiences.
An alteration in the mass merely alters the velocity with which the cart is propelled. A twice-as-massive cart acquires onehalf the original velocity but the impulse is the same as theoriginal impulse.
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56. A cart with a mass of M is moving along a low-friction track with a speed of 60 cm/s. A brick is gently dropped from
rest upon the cart. After the collision the cart and brick move together.
a.
... If the brick has a mass of 2M, then the post-collision speed of the two objects will be 20 cm/s.
b.
c.
d.
e.
... If the brick has a mass of 0.5M, then the post-collision speed of the two objects will be 40 cm/s.
f.
... If the brick has a mass of 0.25M, then the post-collision speed of the two objects will be 48 cm/s.

This is a special case of a perfectly inelastic collision. The total system momentum before the collision is possessed solely
by the moving cart. After the collision, the total system momentum is the combined momentum of the brick and the cart.
Since the brick and cart travel at the same velocity after the collision, the momentum is simply the sum of their masses
multiplied by their velocity. In effect, the total mass which is in motion is increased by some factor as a result of the
subsequent motion of the brick. For momentum to be conserved, the velocity of the cart (and the brick which is on top of
it) must be decreased by that same factor. This principle is used to reason towards the answers to these questions.
a. Adding a brick with a mass of 2M will increase the total mass in motion from M (the cart's mass) to 3M. This threefold
increase in mass is accompanied by a threefold decrease in velocity. The new velocity is one-third the original value. The
cart and brick move forward with a velocity of 20 cm/s.
b. Adding a brick with a mass of 3M will increase the total mass in motion from M (the cart's mass) to 4M. This fourfold
increase in mass is accompanied by a fourfold decrease in velocity. The new velocity is one-fourth the original value. The
c. Adding a brick with a mass of 4M will increase the total mass in motion from M (the cart's mass) to 5M. This fivefold
increase in mass is accompanied by a fivefold decrease in velocity. The new velocity is one-fifth the original value. The cart
and brick move forward with a velocity of 12 cm/s.
d. Adding a brick with a mass of 5M will increase the total mass in motion from M (the cart's mass) to 6M. This six-fold
increase in mass is accompanied by a six-fold decrease in velocity. The new velocity is one-sixth the original value. The
e. Adding a brick with a mass of 0.5M will increase the total mass in motion from M (the cart's mass) to 1.5M. This
increases the mass by a factor of 1.5 and is accompanied by a decrease in velocity by a factor of 1.5. The new velocity is
two-thirds the original value. The cart and brick move forward with a velocity of40 cm/s.
f. Adding a brick with a mass of 0.25M will increase the total mass in motion from M (the cart's mass) to 1.25M. This
increases the mass by a factor of 1.25 and is accompanied by a decrease in velocity by a factor of 1.25. The new velocity is
four-fifths the original value. The cart and brick move forward with a velocity of 48 cm/s.
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Part E: Problem-Solving
57. A 0.530-kg basketball hits a wall head-on with a forward speed of 18.0 m/s. It rebounds with a speed of 13.5 m/s. The
contact time is 0.100 seconds. (a) determine the impulse with the wall, (b) determine the force of the wall on the ball.
Answer: Answer: (a) -16.7 N s; (b) -167 N
Given: m = 0.530 kg; vi = 18.0 m/s; vf = 13.5 m/s; t = 0.100 s
Find: (a) Impulse, (b) Force
(a) Impulse = Momentum Change = mDelta v = m(vf - vi)= (0.530 kg)( -13.5 m/s 18.0 m/s)
Impulse = -16.7 kgm/s = -16.7 Ns
where the "-" indicates that the impulse was opposite the original direction of motion.
(Note that a kgm/s is equivalent to a Ns)
(b) The impulse is the product of force and time. So if impulse is known and time is
known, force can be easily determined.
Impulse = Ft
F = Impulse/t = (-16.7 N s) / (0.100 s) = -167 N
where the "-" indicates that the impulse was opposite the original direction of motion.
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58. A 4.0-kg object has a forward momentum of 20. kgm/s. A 60. Ns impulse acts upon it in the direction of motion for
5.0 seconds. A resistive force of 6.0 N then impedes its motion for 8.0 seconds. Determine the final velocity of the object.
Answer: vf = 8.0 m/s
This question is best thought about conceptually using the principle that an objects
momentum is changed when it encounters an impulse and the amount of change in
momentum is equal to the impulse which it encounters.
Here an object starts with 20 units (kgm/s) of momentum. It then encounters an impulse
of 60 units (Ns) in the direction of motion. A 60-unit impulse will change the momentum
by 60 units, either increasing or decreasing it. If the impulse is in the direction of an
object's motion, then it will increase the momentum. So now the object has 80 units
(kgm/s) of momentum. The object then encounters a resistive force of 6.0 N for 8.0 s.
This is equivalent to an impulse of 48 units (Ns). Since this impulse is "resistive" in
nature, it will decrease the object's momentum by 48 units. The object now has 32 units
of momentum. The question asks for the object's velocity after encountering these two
impulses. Since momentum is the product of mass and velocity, the velocity can be easily
determined.
p = mv
vfinal = pfinal / m = (32 kg m/s) / (4.0 kg) = 8.0 m/s
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59. A 3.0-kg object is moving forward with a speed of 6.0 m/s. The object then encounters a force of 2.5 N for 8.0
seconds in the direction of its motion. The object then collides head-on with a wall and heads in the opposite direction with
a speed of 5.0 m/s. Determine the impulse delivered by the wall to the object.
Answer: 53 Ns
Like the previous problem, this problem is best solved by thinking through it conceptually using the impulse-momentum
change principle.
Here the object begins with a momentum of 18 units (kgm/s). The object encounters a force of 2.5 N for 8.0 seconds.
This is equivalent to an impulse of 20 units (Ns). Since this impulse acts in the direction of motion, it changes the object's
momentum from 18 units to 38 units. A final impulse is encountered when colliding with a wall. Upon rebounding, the
object has a momentum of -15 units (kgm/s). The -15 is the product of mass (3 kg) and velocity (-5 m/s). The "-" sign is
used since the object is now moving in the opposite direction as the original motion. The collision with the wall changed the
object's momentum from +38 units to -15 units. Thus, the collision must have resulted in a 53-unit impulse since it altered
the object's momentum by 53 units.
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60. A 46-gram tennis ball is launched from a 1.35-kg homemade cannon. If the cannon recoils with a speed of 2.1 m/s,
determine the muzzle speed of the tennis ball.
Answer: 62 m/s
Given: mball = 46 g = 0.046 kg; mcannon = 1.35 kg; vcannon = -2.1 m/s
Find: vball = ???
The ball is in the cannon and both objects are initially at rest. The total system momentum
is initially 0. After the explosion, the total system momentum must also be 0. Thus, the
cannon's backward momentum must be equal to the ball's forward momentum.
mcannon vcannon = -mball vball
(1.35 kg) (-2.1 m/s) = (0.046 kg) vball
vball = (1.35 kg) (2.1 m/s) / (0.046 kg) = 61.63 m/s = ~62 m/s
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61. A 2.0-kg box is attached by a string to a 5.0-kg box. A compressed spring is placed between them. The two boxes are
initially at rest on a friction-free track. The string is cut and the spring applies an impulse to both boxes, setting them in
motion. The 2.0-kg box is propelled backwards and moves 1.2 meters to the end of the track in 0.50 seconds. Determine
the time it takes the 5.0-kg box to move 0.90 meters to the opposite end of the track.
Answer: 0.94 s
For the sake of the discussion, the 2-kg box will be referred to as Box 1 and the 5-kg box
will be referred to as box 2.

Given: mbox 1 = 2.0 kg; mbox 2 = 5.0 kg; dbox 1 = 1.2 m; tbox 1 = 0.50 s; dbox 2 = 0.90 m
Find: tbox 2 = ???
The two boxes are initially at rest. The total system momentum is initially 0. After the
cutting of the string and the impulse of the spring, the total system momentum must also
be 0. Thus, Box 1's backward momentum must be equal to the Box 2's forward
momentum. The distance and time for Box 1 must be used to determine its velocity.
v = d/t = (1.2 m) / (0.5 s) = 2.4 m/s
Now the principle of momentum conservation can be used to determine Box 2's velocity.
mbox 1 vbox 1 = mbox 2 vbox 2
(2 kg) (2.4 m/s) = (5 kg) vbox 2
vbox 2 = (2 kg) (2.4 m/s) / (5 kg) = 0.96 m/s
The velocity of Box 2 can be used to determine the time it takes it to move a distance of
0.90 meters.
vbox 2 = dbox 2 / time
Time = dbox 2 / vbox 2 = (0.90 m) / (0.96 m/s) = 0.9375 s = ~0.94 s
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62. Two children are playing with a large snowball while on ice skates on a frozen pond. The 33-kg child tosses the 5.0-kg
snowball, imparting a horizontal speed of 5.0 m/s to it. The 33-kg child is 4.0 meters from a 28-kg child and 8.0 meters
from the edge of the pond (located behind him). Assuming negligible friction, how much time elapses between when the
28-kg child gets hit by the snowball and when the 33-kg child reaches the edge of the pond?
Answer: 9.8 s
For the sake of the discussion, we will refer to the 33-kg child as the "thrower" and the
28-kg child as the "catcher."
In this scenario, the thrower tosses a snowball forward towards the catcher. This throwing
action involves an impulse imparted to the snowball. And due to action-reaction, there is
an identical impulse imparted to the thrower which causes the thrower to be set in motion
in the opposite direction. The impulse is equal to the momentum change. And since the
mass and the velocity change of the snowball are known, the momentum change of the
snowball can be determined.

m (Delta v)snowball = m (vfinal-snowball - vinitial-snowball)
m (Delta v)snowball = (5.0 kg) (+ 5.0 m/s - 0 m/s) = 25.0 kgm/s
This 25-unit momentum change of the snowball is equal to the thrower's momentum
change. Thus the thrower is moving backwards towards the edge of the pond with a
momentum of -25.0 kgm/s. Since momentum is related to velocity, the post-impulse
velocity can be determined.
pthrower = mthrower vthrower
vthrower = pthrower / mthrower
vthrower = (-25.0 kgm/s) / (33 kg)
vthrower = -0.7576 m/s
The thrower began 8.0 meters from the edge of the pond. Once the ball has been thrown,
the thrower is moving backwards towards the edge of the pond with a speed of 0.7576
m/s. Assuming negligible friction on the icy pond, the speed can be used to determine the
time that elapses between when the ball is thrown and when the thrower reaches the
pond's edge.
v = d/t
t=d/v
tfor thrower to reach pond's edge = (8.0 meters) / (0.7576 m/s)
tfor thrower to reach pond's edge = 10.56 seconds
Once the ball is thrown, the thrower starts moving backwards towards the pond's edge.
Meanwhile, the ball is moving forward towards the catcher. The time for the ball to move
from the thrower's original position to the catcher is dependent upon the ball's speed and
the original distance between the thrower and the catcher.
v = d/t
t=d/v
tfor ball to move from thrower to catcher = (4.0 meters) / (5.0 m/s)
tfor ball to move from thrower to catcher = 0.800 seconds
The instant the ball is thrown, two motions occur - the ball moves forward towards the
catcher and the thrower moves backwards towards the pond's edge. The ball reaches the
catcher in 0.800 seconds. And 9.76 seconds (~9.8 s) later (10.56 s - 0.80 s), the
thrower reaches the pond's edge.
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63. A 2.8-kg physics cart is moving forward with a speed of 45 cm/s. A 1.9-kg brick is dropped from rest and lands on the
cart. The cart and brick move together across the horizontal surface. Assume an isolated system.
a. Determine the post-collision speed of the cart and the brick.
b. Determine the momentum change of the cart.
c. Determine the momentum change of the brick.
d. Determine the net impulse upon the cart.
e. Determine the net impulse upon the system of cart and brick.
Answers: (a) v = 27 cm/s
(b) Delta pcart = -51 kg cm/s
(c)Delta pbrick = +51 kg cm/s
(d) Impulse on cart = -51 kg cm/s
(e) Impulse on brick = +51 kg cm/s
Before the collision, only the moving cart has momentum. The total momentum of the
system is simply the mass of the cart multiplied by the velocity of the cart.
ptotal-before = pcart = mcart vcart-before
ptotal-before = (2.8 kg) (45 cm/s)
ptotal-before = 126 kg cm/s
The collision is perfectly inelastic; the two objects stick together and move as a single
unit. After the collision, the total momentum of the system is the sum of the individual
momentum values.
ptotal-after = pcart-after + pbrick-after
ptotal-after = mcart-after vcart-after + mbrick vbrick-after
ptotal-after = mcart-after v + mbrick v
ptotal-after = (2.8 kg) v + (1.9 kg) v
ptotal-after = (4.7 kg) v
Assuming an isolated system, total system momentum is conserved. Thus, before- and
after-collision momentum expressions can be set equal to each other, and the equation
can be manipulated to solve for the post-collision speed of the two objects.
126 kg cm/s = (4.7 kg) v
v = (126 kg cm/s) / (4.7 kg)
v = 26.809 cm/s (~27 cm/s)

The momentum change of the cart (Delta pcart) is simply the difference between the initial
and final momentum values.
Delta pcart = pcart-after - pcart-before
Delta pcart = mcart-after vcart-after - mcart vcart-before
Delta pcart = (2.8 kg) (26.809 m/s) - (2.8 kg) (45 cm/s)
Delta pcart = -50.936 kg cm/s (~51 kgcm/s)
During the collision, the cart loses 50.9 units of momentum. Since total system
momentum is conserved, the brick must gain the same quantity of momentum.
Delta pbrick = 50.936 kg cm/s (~51 kgcm/s)
The change in momentum of the cart is due to the fact that an impulse acts upon the cart
during the collision. The moment contact is made between the brick and the cart, the two
objects are moving at different speeds relative to each other. Consequently, there will be a
friction force acting between the two surfaces until the two objects maintain the same
speed. That is, the brick will pull backward upon the moving cart in order to slow it down;
and the moving cart will pull forward upon the stationary brick in order to speed it up.
These impulses are what cause the momentum changes. And these impulses are equal to
the momentum changes. Thus,
Impulse on cart = Delta pcart = -50.936 kg cm/s (~51 kgcm/s)
Impulse on brick = Delta pbrick = +50.936 kg cm/s (~51 kgcm/s)
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64. In a physics lab, a 0.500-kg cart moving at 36.4 cm/s collides inelastically with a second cart which is initially at rest.
The two carts move together with a speed of 21.8 cm/s after the collision. Determine the mass of the second cart.
Answer: ~ 0.335 kg
This problem involves a perfectly inelastic collision between two carts. Thus, the postcollision velocity of the two carts are identical. For communication sake, the carts will be
referred to as Cart A and Cart B. The given information is:
mA = 0.500 kg; vA-before = 36.4 cm/s; vB-before = 0 cm/s; vA-after = 21.8 cm/s; vB-after= 21.8
cm/s
The unknown to be solved for in this problem is the mass of Cart B (mB).
The solution begins by setting the writing expressions for the total momentum of the
system before and after the collision.
Before Collision: ptotal-before = (0.500 kg)(36.4 cm/s) + (mB)(0 cm/s)
After Collision: ptotal-after = (0.500 kg)(21.8 cm/s) + (mB)(21.8 cm/s)

Assuming momentum conservation, these expressions are set equal to each other and
then algebraically manipulated to solve for the unknown (mB).
(0.500 kg)(36.4 cm/s) + (mB)(0 cm/s) = (0.500 kg)(21.8 cm/s) + (mB)(21.8 cm/s)
(0.500 kg)(36.4 cm/s) = (0.500 kg)(21.8 cm/s) + (mB)(21.8 cm/s)
(0.500 kg)(36.4 cm/s) - (0.500 kg)(21.8 cm/s) = (mB)(21.8 cm/s)
(7.30 kgcm/s) = (mB)(21.8 cm/s)
0.33486 kg = mB
mB = ~0.335 kg
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65. A 9230-kg truck collides head on with a 1250-kg parked car. The vehicles entangle together and slide a linear distance
of 10.6 meters before coming to rest. Assuming a uniform coefficient of friction of 0.820 between the road surface and the
vehicles, determine the pre-collision speed of the truck.
Answer: 14.8 m/s
Here is an example of a more difficult problem involving the combination of momentum
principles with information learned in other units of the course. The problem involves a
perfectly inelastic collision between a truck and a car. Thus, the post-collision velocity of
the truck and car are identical. The given collision information is:
mTruck = 9320 kg; mCar = 1250 kg; vCar-before = 0 cm/s; vTruck-after = vCar-after= ??
The unknown to be solved for in this problem is the velocity of the truck before the
collision (vTruck-before).
There is some kinematic/dynamic information provided that will assist in determining the
post-collision velocity of the entangled truck and car.
mu = 0.820; d = 10.6 m; vfinal = 0 m/s
The combination of car and truck will slide to a final resting position due to the action of
friction. The coefficient of friction, a free-body diagram and a kinematic equation can be
used to determine the velocity of the car and truck immediately following the collision.
The free-body diagram is shown at the right. Note that the
unbalanced force is friction. Its value is found by multiplying the coefficient of friction by
the combined weight of the car and truck (muMg where M = mtruck + mcar ). The force of
friction is the net force. Thus, the acceleration is the force of friction divided by the
combined mass of the car and the truck (M). Subsequently, the expression for the
acceleration of the car and truck while sliding to a stop is simply mug.
a = Fnet/m = Ffrict/m = (muMg) / M = mug
a = -8.036 m/s/s
(The - sign indicates a deceleration or slowing down motion.)
Now a kinematic equation can be used to solve for the velocity of the car and truck
immediately after the collision. This is shown below:
vf2 = vo2 + 2ad
(0 m/s) = v
2
2
o
+ 2(-8.036 m/s/s)(10.6 m) = vo2 - 170.36 m2/s2

(0 m/s)2 = vo2 - 170.36 m2/s2
vo2 = 170.36 m2/s2
vo = SQRT(170.36 m2/s2)
vo = 13.052 m/s (= vTruck-after = vCar-after )

Now that the post-collision velocity of the car and truck are known, expressions for the
total system momentum can be written for the before- and after-collision situations.
Before Collision: ptotal-before = (9320 kg)(vTruck-before) + (1250 kg)(0 cm/s)
After Collision: ptotal-after = (9320 kg)(13.052 m/s) + (1250 kg)(13.052 m/s)
(9320 kg)(vTruck-before) + (1250 kg)(0 cm/s) = (9320 kg)(13.052 m/s) + (1250
kg)(13.052 m/s)
(9320 kg)(vTruck-before) = (9320 kg)(13.052 m/s) + (1250 kg)(13.052 m/s)
(9320 kg)(vTruck-before) = 137963 kgm/s
(vTruck-before) = (137963 kgm/s) / (9320 kg)
vTruck-before = ~14.8 m/s
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66. A classic physics demonstration involves firing a bullet into a block of wood suspended by strings from the ceiling. The
height to which the wood rises below its lowest position is mathematically related to the pre-collision speed of the bullet. If
a 9.7-gram bullet is fired into the center of a 1.1-kg block of wood and it rises upward a distance of 33 cm, then what was
the pre-collision speed of the bullet?
Answer: 2.9 x 102 m/s
Here is another instance in which momentum principles must be combined with content
learned in other units in order to complete an analysis of a physical situation. The collision
involves the inelastic collision between a block of wood and bullet. The bulled lodges into
the wood and the two objects move with identical velocity after the collision. The kinetic
energy of the wood and bullet is then converted to potential energy as the combination of
two objects rises to a final resting position.
Energy conservation can be used to determine the velocity of the wood-bullet combination
immediately after the collision. The kinetic energy of the wood-bullet combination is set
equal to the final potential energy of the wood-bullet combination and the equation is
manipulated to solve for the post-collision velocity of the wood-bullet combination. The
work is shown here:
0.5 (mwood + mbullet) vcombination-after2 = (mwood + mbullet) (9.8 m/s2) (0.33 m)
0.5 vcombination-after2 = (9.8 m/s2) (0.33 m)
vcombination-after2 = 2 (9.8 m/s2) (0.33 m)
vcombination-after2 = 6.468 m2/s2
vcombination-after = 2.5432 m/s
Now momentum conservation can be used to determine the pre-collision velocity of the
bullet (vbullet-before). The known information is:
mwood = 1.1 kg; mbullet = 9.7 g = 0.0097 kg; vwood-after = 2.5432 m/s; vbullet-after = 2.5432 m/s
Expressions for the total system momentum can be written for the before- and aftercollision situations.
Before Collision: ptotal-before = (1.1 kg)(0 m/s) + (0.0097 kg)(vbullet-before)
After Collision: ptotal-after = (1.1 kg)(2.5432 m/s) + (0.0097 kg)(2.5432 m/s)
(1.1 kg)(0 m/s) + (0.0097 kg)(vbullet-before) = (1.1 kg)(2.5432 m/s) + (0.0097
kg)(2.5432 m/s)
(0.0097 kg)(vbullet-before) = (1.1 kg)(2.5432 m/s) + (0.0097 kg)(2.5432 m/s)
(0.0097 kg)(vbullet-before) = 2.8222 kgm/s
vbullet-before = (2.8222 kgm/s) / (0.0097 kg)
vbullet-before = 290.95 m/s
vbullet-before = ~2.9 x 102 m/s
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67. At an amusement park, twin brothers Tubby (m = 50 kg) and Chubby (m = 62 kg) occupy separate 36-kg bumper
cars. Tubby gets his car cruising at 3.6 m/s and collides head-on with Chubby who is moving the opposite direction at 1.6
m/s. After the collision, Tubby bounces backwards at 0.5 m/s. Assuming an isolated system, determine ...
a. ... Chubby's post-collision speed.
b. ... the percentage of original kinetic energy which is lost as the result of the collision.
Answer: (a) v = ~2.0 m/s
(b) % KE Loss = ~70. %
(a) Expressions for the total momentum of the system before and after the collision can
be written. For the before-collision expression, Tubby is assigned a positive velocity value
and Chubby is assigned a negative velocity value (since he is moving in the opposite
direction). Furthermore, the mass of the bumper car must be figured into the total mass
of the individually moving objects.
ptotal-before = pTubby-before + pChubby-before
ptotal-before = mTubby vTubby-before + mChubby vChubby-before
ptotal-before = (86 kg) (3.6 m/s) + (98 kg) (-1.6 m/s)
For the before-collision expression, Tubby is assigned a negative velocity value (since he
has bounced backwards in the opposite direction of his original motion. Chubby is
assigned a velocity of v since his velocity is not known.
ptotal-after = pTubby-after + pChubby-after
ptotal-after = mTubby vTubby-after + mChubby vChubby-after
ptotal-after = (86 kg) (-0.5 m/s) + (98 kg) (vChubby-after)
ptotal-after = (86 kg) (-0.5 m/s) + (98 kg) v
Since the system is assumed to be isolated, the before-collision momentum expression
can be set equal to the after-collision momentum expression. The equation can then be
algebraically manipulated to solve for the post-collision velocity of Chubby.
(86 kg) (3.6 m/s) + (98 kg) (-1.6 m/s) = (86 kg) (-0.5 m/s) + (98 kg) v
309.6 kgm/s - 156.8 kgm/s = (86 kg) (-0.5 m/s) + (98 kg) v
152.8 kgm/s = - 43 kgm/s + (98 kg) v
152.8 kgm/s + 43 kgm/s = (98 kg) v

195.8 kgm/s = (98 kg) v
v = (195.8 kgm/s) / (98 kg)
v = 1.998 m/s = ~2.0 m/s
(b) This collision is neither perfectly elastic (since the collision force is a contact force) nor
perfectly inelastic (since the objects do not stick together). It is a partially elastic/inelastic
collision. Since the collision is not perfectly elastic, there is a loss of total system kinetic
energy during the collision. The before-collision and after-collision kinetic energy values
can be calculated and the percentage of total KE lost can be determined.
The before-collision KE is based on before-collision speeds:
KEsystem-before = KETubby-before + KEChubby-before
KEsystem-before = 0.5 mTubby vTubby-before2 + 0.5 mChubby vChubby-before2
KEsystem-before = 0.5 (86 kg) (3.6 m/s)2 + 0.5 (98 kg) (1.6 m/s)2
KEsystem-before = 557.28 J + 125.44 J
KEsystem-before = 682.72 J
The after-collision KE is based on after -collision speeds:

KEsystem-after = KETubby-after + KEChubby-after
KEsystem-after = 0.5 mTubby vTubby-after + 0.5 mChubby vChubby-after
KEsystem-after = 0.5 (86 kg) (0.5 m/s)2 + 0.5 (98 kg) (1.998 m/s)2
KEsystem-after = 10.75 J + 195.61 J
KEsystem-after = 206.36 J
The system kinetic energy is changed from 682.72 J to 206.36 J during the collision. The
total KE lost is 476.36 J. This value can be used to determine the percent of the original
KE which is lost in the collision.
% KE Loss = (476.36 J) / (682.72 J) 100%
% KE Loss = 69.77% = ~70.%
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68. Two billiard balls, assumed to have identical mass, collide in a perfectly elastic collision. Ball A is heading East at 12
m/s. Ball B is moving West at 8.0 m/s. Determine the post-collision velocities of Ball A and Ball B.
Answer: vA-after = -8.0 cm/s; vB-after = 12 cm/s (The - indicates West and the +
indicates East)
This collision is said to be perfectly elastic. Thus, both the total system momentum and
the total system kinetic energy of the two objects is conserved. The momentum
conservation equation can be written as
mA vA-before + mB vB-before = mA vA-after + mB vB-after
Since the balls are identical, their masses are the same. That is, mA = mB = m. The
equation can be rewritten as:
m vA-before + m vB-before = m vA-after + m vB-after
Since each term of the equation contains the variable m, we can divide through by m and
cancel m's from the equation. The equation can be rewritten as:
vA-before + vB-before = vA-after + vB-after
For elastic collisions, total system kinetic energy is conserved. The kinetic energy
conservation equation is written as
0.5 m vA-before2 + 0.5 m vB-before2 = 0.5 m vA-after2 + 0.5 m vB-after2
As shown in the book, this equation can be simplified to the form of
vA-before + vA-after = vB-before + vB-after
The problem states the before-collision velocities of the two balls.
vA-before = 12 cm/s (the + indicates east)
vB-before = - 8 cm/s (the - indicates west)
These two values can be substituted into equations 1 and 2 above.
12 cm/s - 8 cm/s = vA-after + vB-after
12 cm/s + vA-after = - 8 cm/s + vB-after
Now the problem has been reduced to two equations and two unknowns. Such a problem
can be solved in numerous ways. One method involved using Equation 3 to develop an
expression for vA-after in terms of vB-after. This expression for vA-after can then be substituted
into Equation 4. The value of vB-after can then be determined. This is shown below.
From Equation 3:
vA-after = 12 cm/s - 8 cm/s - vB-after
vA-after = 4 cm/s - vB-after
This expression for vA-after in terms of vB-after can now be substituted into equation 4. This is
shown below. The subsequent algebraic manipulation is shown as well.

12 cm/s + 4 cm/s - vB-after = - 8 cm/s + vB-after
12 cm/s + 4 cm/s + 8 cm/s - vB-after = + vB-after
24 cm/s = + vB-after + vB-after
24 cm/s = 2 vB-after
vB-after = +12 cm/s
Now that the value of vB-after has been determined, it can be substituted into the original
expression for vA-after (Equation 5) in order to determine the numerical value of vA-after. This
is shown below.
vA-after = 4 cm/s - vB-after
vA-after = 4 cm/s - 12 cm/s
vA-after = -8 cm/s
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69. A 1.72-kg block of soft wood is suspended by two strings from the ceiling. The wood is free to rotate in pendulum-like
fashion when a force is exerted upon it. A 8.50-g bullet is fired into the wood. The bullet enters the wood at 431 m/s and
exits the opposite side shortly thereafter. If the wood rises to a height of 13.8 cm, then what is the exit speed of the
bullet?
Answer: vbullet-after = 98.2 m/s

The difficulty of this problem lies in the fact that information from other units (work and
energy) must be combined with the momentum information from this unit to arrive at a
solution to the problem. In this scenario there is a collision between a stationary block of
wood and a moving bullet. The impulse causes the block of wood to be set into motion and
the bullet to slow down. Momentum can be assumed to be conserved. Once set into
motion, the block of wood rises in pendulum-like fashion to a given height. Its energy of
motion (kinetic energy) is transformed into energy of vertical position (potential energy).
The post-collision speed of the wood can be determined using energy conservation
equations.
To begin the solution, the final height of the wood is used to determine the post-collision
speed of the wood.
KEinitial = PEfinal
0.5 mwood vwood2 = mwood g hwood
vwood2 = 2 g hwood
vwood = SQRT(2 g hwood)
vwood = SQRT[2 (9.8 m/s2) (0.138 m)]
vwood = SQRT[2.7048 m2/s2]
vwood = 1.6446 m/s
Immediately following the emergence of the bullet from the wood, the wood block is
moving with a speed of 1.6446 m/s. Knowing this, momentum conservation can be
applied to determine the post-collision speed of the bullet.
mwood vwood-before + mbullet vbullet-before = mwood vwood-after + mbullet vbullet-after
where vwood-before = 0 m/s; vbullet-before = 431 m/s; vwood-after = 1.6446 m/s; vbullet-after = ???
(1.72 kg) (0 m/s) + (0.00850 kg) (431 m/s) = (1.72 kg) (1.6446 m/s) + (0.00850
kg) vbullet-after
(To simplify the work, the units will be dropped from the solution in the next several steps.
Once a vbullet-after value is found, its units will be in m/s, consistent with the units stated in
the above line.)
0 + 3.6635 = 2.8288 + 0.00850 vbullet-after
0.8347 = 0.00850 vbullet-after
(0.8347) / (0.00850) = vbullet-after
vbullet-after = 98.205 m/s = ~98.2 m/s
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70. In a physics lab, the pitching speed of a student is determined by throwing a baseball into a box and observing the
box's motion after the catch. A measurement of the the distance the box slides across a rough surface of known coefficient
of friction will allow one to determine the pre-impact speed of the pitched ball. If a 0.256-kg ball hits a 3.46-kg box and
the ball and box slide a distance of 2.89 meters across a surface with a coefficient of friction of 0.419, then what is the
pre-impact speed of the pitched ball?
Answer: 70.7 m/s
This is another example of a problem in which information from other units (work and
energy or Newton's laws and kinematics) must be combined with the momentum
information from this unit to arrive at a solution to the problem. There is a collision
between a stationary box and a moving baseball that causes the baseball to slow down
and the box to speed up. It is a perfectly inelastic collision with the baseball remaining
lodged in the box and the two objects moving together with the same post-collision speed.
After the collision occurs, the baseball and box slide a given distance across a rough
surface to a final resting position. The coefficient of friction between the box and the
surface is given. This latter information (sliding distance and mu value) can be used to
determine the post-collision speed of the box and baseball. Once found, momentum
conservation can be applied to the collision to determine the pre-collision speed of the
baseball.
Work and energy principles will be used to analyze the motion of the box/baseball system
sliding to a stop. (Newton's laws and kinematics could just as easily been used).
Immediately following the collision, the box/baseball system has kinetic energy. Friction
does work upon the box/baseball system to bring to a final resting position, characterized
by zero kinetic energy. The motion occurs across a level surface, so there is no potential
energy change of the box. The work done by friction is equal to the kinetic energy change
of the box/baseball system.
Wfrict = Delta KE
Ffrict d cos(Theta) = KEfinal - KEinitial
(mu Fnorm) d cos(180) = 0.5 m vfinal2 - 0.5 m vinitial2
- (mu m g) d = 0 - 0.5 m vinitial2
mu g d = 0.5 vinitial2
2 mu g d = vinitial2
SQRT(2 mu g d) = vinitial
where mu = 0.419; d = 2.89 m; and g = 9.8 m/s2
vinitial = SQRT[2 (0.419) (9.8 m/s2 ) (2.89 m)]
vinitial = SQRT[23.734 m2/s2]
vinitial = 4.8717 m/s
Immediately following the collision, the box/baseball system begins moving with a speed
of 4.8717 m/s. Now momentum conservation can be applied to determine the pre-collision
speed of the baseball.
mbaseball vbaseball-before + mBox vBox-before = mbaseball vbaseball-after + mBox vBox- after
(0.256 kg) vbaseball-before + (3.46 kg) (0 m/s) = (0.256 kg) (4.8717 m/s) + (3.46 kg)
(4.8717 m/s)
(To simplify the solution, the units will be dropped from the solution in the next several
steps. Once a vbaseball-before value is found, its units will be in m/s, consistent with the units
stated in the above line.)
0.256 vbaseball-before = 1.2472 + 16.8562
0.256 vbaseball-before = 18.1033
vbaseball-before = (18.1033) / (0.256)
vbaseball-before = 70.7 m/s
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71. Two ice skaters collide on the ice. A 39.6-kg skater moving South at 6.21 m/s collides with a 52.1-kg skater moving
East at 4.33 m/s. The two skaters entangle and move together across the ice. Determine the magnitude and direction of
their post-collision velocity.
Answer: 3.64 m/s at 42.5 degrees east of south (312.5 degrees)
The difficulty of this problem lies in the fact that the collision occurs between two objects moving at right angles to each
other. Thus, vector principles will have to be combined with momentum principles to arrive at a solution to the problem.
The same conservation of momentum principle will be used; but when summing the before momentum values of the two
objects, the fact that they are at right angles to each means that they will have to be added using the Pythagorean
theorem. The collision is perfectly inelastic with the two skaters moving at the same speed after the collision. For
communication sake, the 39.6-kg skater will be referred to as skater A and the 52.1-kg skater will be referred to as skater
B. A vector diagram will likely assist in the solution of the problem.
The individual momentum of the two skaters is first determined.

pA = mA vA = (39.6 kg) (6.21 m/s, South) = 245.916 kg m/s, South
p B = mB
= (52.1 kg) (4.33 m/s, East ) = 225.593 kg m/s, East
Now the Pythagorean theorem can be used to add these two vectors and thus determine the pre-collision system
momentum. The diagram at the right shows the vectors being added in head-to-tail fashion. The resultant is drawn from
the tail of the first vector to the head of the last vector. The resultant is the hypotenuse of a right triangle whose sides are
the pA and pB vectors.
psystem = pA + pB (where pA and pB are right angle vectors)

psystem = SQRT(pA2+ pB2)
psystem = SQRT[(245.916 kg m/s)2+ (225.593 kg m/s)2]
psystem = 333.717 kg m/s

The direction of the this total system momentum vector can be determined by using a trigonometric function. As shown in
the diagram above, the angle theta is the angle between the system momentum vector and the vertical. This angle can be
determined using either the tangent, cosine or sine function. The tangent function is used below.
tangent(Theta) = opposite side / adjacent side
tangent(Theta) = pB / pA
tangent(Theta) = (225.593 kg m/s) / (245.916 kg m/s)
tangent(Theta) = 0.91735
Theta = tan-1 (0.91735)
Theta = 42.532 degrees
Before the collision, the total system momentum is 333.717 kg m/s in a direction of 42.532 degrees east of south. Since
total system momentum is conserved, the after-collision momentum of the system is also 333.717 kg m/s in a direction
of 42.532 degrees east of south. After the collision, the two objects move together as a single unit with the same velocity.
The velocity of each object can be found by dividing the total momentum by the total mass.
psystem = msystem vsystem
vsystem = ( psystem ) / (msystem )
vsystem = (333.717 kg m/s) / (91.7 kg)
vsystem = 3.64 m/s at 42.5 degrees east of south
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72. In a physics lab, two carts collide elastically on a level, low-friction track. Cart A has a mass of 1.500 kg and is moving
east at 36.5 cm/s. Cart B has a mass of 0.500 kg and is moving West at 42.8 cm/s. Determine the post-collision velocities
of the two carts.
Answer: vA-after = -3.15 cm/s; vB-after = 76.15 cm/s
This is a perfectly elastic collision in which both momentum and kinetic energy are
conserved. The method for solving this problem will be very similar to that used inProblem
#68 above. Two equations will be developed using the momentum conservation and
kinetic energy conservation principles. One equation will be used to develop an expression
for vA in terms of vB. This expression will then be substituted into the second equation in
order to solve for vB. The original vA expression can then be used to determine the
vA value. The solution is shown below.
The momentum conservation equation can be written as

mA vA-before + mB vB-before = mA vA-after + mB vB-after
(1.500 kg) (+36.5 cm/s) + (0.500 kg) (-42.8 cm/s) = (1.500 kg) vA-after + (0.500 kg)
vB-after
33.35 kg cm/s = (1.500 kg) vA-after + (0.500 kg) vB-after
For elastic collisions, total system kinetic energy is conserved. The kinetic energy
conservation equation is written as
0.5 m vA-before2 + 0.5 m vB-before2 = 0.5 m vA-after2 + 0.5 m vB-after2
As shown in the book, this equation can be simplified to the form of
vA-before + vA-after = vB-before + vB-after
36.5 cm/s + vA-after = -42.8 cm/s + vB-after
vA-after = vB-after - 79.3 cm/s
Now the problem has been reduced to two equations and two unknowns. Such a problem
can be solved in numerous ways. Note that equation 2 represents an expression for v Aafter in terms of vB-after. This expression for vA-after can then be substituted into Equation 1.
The value of vB-after can then be determined. This work is shown below. (To simplify the
mathematics, the units will be dropped from the numerical values stated in the solution.
When vB-after is solved for, its units will be in cm/s - the same units used for velocity in the
above portion of the solution.)
33.35 = (1.500) (vB-after - 79.3) + (0.500) vB-after
33.35 = 1.500 vB-after - 118.95 + 0.500 vB-after
152.30 = 2.000 vB-after
vB-after = 76.15 cm/s
Now that the value of vB-after has been determined, it can be substituted into the original
expression for vA-after (Equation 2) in order to determine the numerical value of vA-after. This
is shown below.
vA-after = vB-after - 79.3 cm/s
vA-after = 76.15 cm/s - 79.3 cm/s
vA-after = -3.15 cm/s

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Part A: Multiple-Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following statements are true about momentum?

Momentum is a vector quantity.

The standard unit on momentum is the Joule.

An object with mass will have momentum.

An object which is moving at a constant speed has momentum.

Momentum is a conserved quantity; the momentum of an object is never changed.

An object with a changing speed will have a changing momentum.

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Momentum is a form of energy.

If an object has momentum, then it must also have mechanical energy.

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3. Which of the following statements are true about impulse?

Impulse is a vector quantity.

Objects involved in collisions encounter impulses.

The Newton is the unit for impulse.

The kgm/s is equivalent to the units on impulse.

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4. Which of the following statements are true about collisions?

During a collision, an object always encounters an impulse and a change in momentum.

from the influence of net external forces.

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Most collisions tend to be partially to completely elastic.

Momentum is conserved in an elastic collision but not in an inelastic collision.

The kinetic energy of an object remains constant during an elastic collision.

Elastic collisions occur when the collision force is a non-contact force.

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Part B: Multiple Choice

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all of the above.

none of the above.

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there is no air in space

there is no friction in space

there is no gravity in outer space

... nonsense! Rockets do accelerate in outer space.

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the resulting impact velocity is lessened

the momentum change is decreased

the time of impact is increased

the time of impact is decreased

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because momentum is conserved

because velocity is conserved

because both velocity and momentum are conserved

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c. both the same

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