Linear Momentum & Impulse

01

A small smooth sphere A of mass m moving on a smooth horizontal table with velocity u collides directly with
another small smooth sphere B, of equal size and mass 2m, which is at rest on the table. The coefficient of restitution
is e.
i). Show that the velocity acquired by B is (1 + e)

u
3

, and find the impulse J between the spheres.

ii). Express the loss of kinetic energy due to impact in the form E =

J
( 1e ) u.
2

iii). If the direction of motion of A get reversed due to the impact, show that e >

02.

1
2

and E <

1
2
2 mu . (2000)

Two smooth spheres of equal radii are moving in opposite directions on a smooth horizontal table, so as to collide
directly. Their masses are 2m, 3m and their speeds are 7u, 3u respectively. The coefficient of restitution between the
spheres is e. Show that the impulse of the collision is of the magnitude 2mu(1 + e).

1
15

If the smaller sphere, A is brought to rest by the impact determine the value of e, and show that

of the

original kinetic energy is retained in the system. (2001)

03.

The masses of three perfectly elastic A, B, C of equal radii are m, m, m respectively where >1. They are placed
on a on a smooth horizontal plane, with their centres in a straight line, in the above order of the letters. Now B is
projected towards A with speed u, so as to strike A directly.
Show that
i). the speed of B after the first collision is

04.

( 1
+1 )

Two smooth spheres P and Q of small radii and of equal mass are at a point A of a smooth horizontal groove of
smaller width and of radius a. At time t=0, the spheres P and Q are projected simultaneously with speeds U and v
respectively along the groove in opposite directions. At what time t will the spheres P and Q first collide?
If, after the collision, P and Q move with speeds U 1 and V1 respectively along the groove and if e(<1) is the
coefficient of restitution between the spheres, write down the equations to determine U 1 and V1.
If U > V,
i). show that, after the collision, Q will move in the direction opposite to its earlier direction of motion.
ii). And if the two spheres move in opposite directions after the collision, show that, e >

05.

( UV
U +V )

2 a (1+ e )
If esmall
satisfies
the condition
show
that Pelastic
and Q will
collide
again
t = attached
(2003)
A
smooth
particle, given
A andina ii),
small
smooth
particle
B of
masswhen
m are
ends of an
e (U +to
V )the two
inelastic string of length l and are at rest on a smooth horizontal plane. The system now moves with speed u in the
direction AB with the string taut. The particle B, after some time, collides with a small smooth elastic particle C of
mass M which is at rest on the plane. If e is the coefficient of restitution between the particles B and C, show that the
particle B moves with the speed

particle B after a time

( meM
m+ M )

u after colliding with particle C, and the particle A collides with the

from the moment of collision between B and C. (2004)

06.

A light inextensible string passes over a smooth fixed pulley. One end of the string carries a bucket of mass M and
the other end carries a counterpoise of equal mass. A small ball of mass m is dropped vertically so as to strike the
horizontal bottom of the bucket with velocity u. If e is the coefficient of restitution, show that the bucket begins to
move with velocity

m ( 1+e ) u
2 M+m

, and find the impulse in the string. Find, also the time between the first and
(P.T.O.)

07.

Two small smooth spheres of masses m and 2m are connected by a light inextensible string of length 2a. The middle
point of the string is tied to a fixed horizontal long pin and the two spheres are held at a distance 2a apart with the
two portions of the string taut and horizontal. The spheres are now released from rest, simultaneously. Given that the
first impact brings the heavier sphere to rest, find the coefficient of restitution.
Show further that
(i) The second impact brings the lighter sphere to rest
(ii)the total mechanical energy of the system between second and the third impacts is

08.

1
2

mga, if the potential

energy
Three small smooth spheres A, B, C, of equal radii and of masses a, b, c, respectively, are placed separately on a
smooth horizontal table, in that order, so that their centres lie on a straight line.
The sphere A is projected with a velocity u along the line of centres so as to strike B which in turn strikes C. The
coefficient of restitution for each pair of spheres is e. Show that C moves off with velocity
2

1+e u

Given further that A and B are brought to rest after the fist and second impacts respectively, find the ratios a:b:c and
09.

State

(i) the law of conservation of momentum

(ii) the Newtons law of restitution, as applied to the collisions of particles.

Three equal smooth elastic particles P, Q ad R are at rest at the points A, B, C respectively on a smooth horizontal
table so that B is the mid point of AC. The particle P is projected along the table with velocity u and collides directly
with the particle Q. If the particle P is involved in two collisions and that the particle R is involved in only one
collision, show that e 3 - 2

, where e the coefficient of restitution.

10.

A smooth ball of mass m which is at rest, falls under gravity from a height 8h to a horizontal smooth plane and
rebounds to a height 2h. Find the coefficient of restitution between the ball and the plane.
Show that the loss of kinetic energy due to the impact is 6mgh and find the impulse between the ball and the plane.

11.

A particle P, of mass 2m, is moving in a straight line with speed u at the instant when it collides directly with a
particle Q, of mass m, which is at rest. The coefficient of restitution between P and Q is e.

a) Show that, after collision, P moves with speed

( 2e )
3

u.
2

b) Show that the loss in kinetic energy due to the impact is

mu (
1e 2) .
3

c) Find in terms of m, u and e, the impulse exerted by P on Q.

12.

Three balls, A, B, C of masses 3m, 2m and 2m and of equal radii, lie on a smooth table with their centres on a

straight line. Their coefficient of restitution is

1
4

. Show that, if A is projected with velocity u to strike B, there

are three impacts and find the final velocities of the three balls.
13.

14.

Three similar billiard balls A, B, C of masses m 1, m2 and m3 respectively lie in that order in a straight line on a
smooth horizontal billiard table. The coefficient of restitution between each pair of particles is e. A is projected with
velocity u so that it impinges directly on B. The ball then strikes C.
a) Find the velocities of A and B after these impacts.
b) Show that there will be no further impacts if
m1m3(1 +e+e2) em2(m1 + m2 +m3)
(P.T.O.)
A barrel, of gun of negligible height is inclined to the horizontal by

300 . The gun is kept on a smooth horizontal

surface so that it can recoil along the surface. When a shell of mass m leaves the barrel at a velocity v, the gun
recoils with velocity u. The mass of the gun is n times the mass of the shell. Show that
i) 2

( n+1 ) u = 3 v and

ii) If the total kinetic energy of both gun and the shell is E, show that the horizontal range of the shell is

4 3 nE
m ( 4 n+1 ) g .
15.

Define Perfectly elastic collision

A smooth uniform sphere A of mass
and mass

m1 collides directly with a stationary smooth sphere B of the same radius

m 2 , with a velocity u. After the collision, sphere B collides directly with another stationary sphere C of

same radius and mass

m3

collision with B, show that

. If all the collisions are perfectly elastic and C moves with a velocity u after the

( m1+ m2) ( m2 +m3 )

= 4

m1 m2

and deduce that

m1 m3

or 9

m1

m3 .
16.

Four smooth particles, each of mass m are kept at the vertices of a rhombus ABCD on a smooth horizontal table and

^
the four particles are connected by light inextensible strings along the sides AB, BC, CD, and DA. The angle B A
D=

CA
600 and the strings are kept just taut. If an impulse I is given to A along

particles C and A are u and v respectively, then show that v = 3u =

17.

3I
8m

the initial velocities of two

A man of mass M, on a horizontal smooth floor throws a ball of mass m. A dog of mass

M ' on the floor catches

the ball. When the ball is thrown, its velocity relative to the man is V and its direction is
Show that the dog gets the velocity

mMv cos
( m+ M ) ( m+ M ' )

0 to the horizontal.

18.

A man who is standing on a horizontal plank which is on a smooth ice layer has n marbles of mass m each. The man
and the plank moves on the ice layer in a straight line by throwing each marbles at time T intervals with velocity V
relative to him. The total initial mass of the man, plank and marbles is M. If the velocity of the man after throwing
the rth marble is Vr ,show that the relationship between Vr and Vr+1 is, Vr+1 Vr =

mV
M rm . Then show that the

n1

maximum velocity that the man can attain is

MmV
rm
r =0

Also show that the total distance travelled from the

n1

start till he throws the last marble is MVT

M (nr
r1)m
r=1

and find the velocity of the centre of mass at a

given time. (1973)

19.

A cube of mass M is free to move on its one face on a smooth horizontal table. A narrow smooth tunnel ABC is
drilled through the tube. The tunnel is in the central cross section of the cube and A and C are on a horizontal line
such that A and B are on the opposite sides of the cube. The tangents drawn at A and b are also horizontal. A
particle of mass m is projected along the tangent at A with velocity u into the tunnel from A. The particle ejects from
the cube at C with the velocity v. Find an expression for v using the law of conservation of momentum and law of
conservation of energy. Justify your answer.

20.

Two buckets of mass m each, are tied to the ends of an inextensible string tat passes through a fixed pulley. Two
monkeys of mass M each are sitting on these two baskets. At the start, the system is in equilibrium. Now the two
monkeys A and b start to climb up the string with velocities u and v relative to the string. Find,
i) the initial speed of the rope.
ii) the acceleration of the rope.
iii) the tension in the rope.
iv) the quantities of energies lost by each monkey A and B, in time T. (1978)
(P.T.O.)

21.

An object of mass (m1 + m2) moves along a straight line on a smooth horizontal surface with velocity u and blast
into two pieces A and B of masses m1 and m2 respectively. After the blast these A and B also move along the same
straight line and they gain an amount of energy E. Show that the centre of mass of the two parts A and B also moves
with the same velocity u. If the velocities of A and B after the blast are u 1+ u and u2+ u, show that
m1u12 + m2u22=2E.

22.

Three balls A,B,C of mass m are kept on a smooth table in a straight line. The coefficient of restitution between the
balls A and b is e and between the balls B and c is

e ' . The ball A is projected towards B. A hits b first and then B

hits C. Find the velocities of A, B and C after the second collision.

Hence, show that when

23.

1
<e <1 and e ' <
3

3e-1
e +1

, only two collisions happen. (1982)

A small smooth ball starting from rest falls distance h vertically on a horizontal smooth table. If the coefficient of
restitution between the ball and the table is e, show that the ball will bounce for a time
landed on the table for the first time..

e
8h
1e g

from, when it

24.

Two smooth spheres A and B are at rest on a smooth horizontal table apart from each other. When the sphere A is
projected towards B to collide with it directly, after the collision the sphere B hits perpendicularly on a smooth
vertical barrier fixed on the table. Show that, A and B will definitely collide for the third time, when

( 1e )2
( 1+ e )2

where, e is the coefficient of restitution between A and B and

'

e' <

is the coefficient of restitution

between B and the barrier.

25.

A straight pipe AB with circular cross section, of mass M and length 2l, is at rest on a smooth horizontal table such
that its axis is horizontal. A small smooth marble of mass m which is free to move inside the pipe is kept at O, which
is the mid point of AB. The ends A and B are covered with two circular lids and an impulse I is given on lid A in the
direction AB. Show that, by considering the motion of the marble relative to the pipe or otherwise, in the resulting
motion of the system, the time taken by the marble to hit the lid A is

lM
1
1+
I
e

( )

, where e is the coefficient of

restitution between the marble and lid A. Show further that the pipe has moved a distance

{( ) ( )}
1+

1
m
/ 1+
e
M

from its initial position. (1964)

26.

Three particles A, B and C of masses m 1, m2 and m3 respectively, are on a horizontal smooth table, joining A and B
0
^
and B and C by light inextensible strings. The strings of the system were kept just taut such that, A B C = 120

, and an impulse I was given on C in the direction BC. Show that the initial velocity of A is

2 mI
4 m 2 ( m1 +m 2 +m 3 ) +3 m 1 m 2
27.

and its direction is

tan 1

3 ( m1 +m2 )
m2

A rocket of mass M, maintains its constant height by ejecting a column of gas of cross section A and density .
Find the velocity of the column of gas and find further that, how much power should be exerted by the engine for
this. (1976)

The End
W.M.J.P.Wanigasekera(B.Sc/P.G.Dip/M.Sc.)