Chapter 2

Linear Momentum

 Momentum
 Conservation of Momentum
 Collisions
 Linear Momentum
 How can the effect of catching a slow, heavy object be the same as
catching a fast, lightweight object?

 The answer: They have the same linear momentum.

 Linear Momentum 𝑷 is defined as the mass times the velocity.

𝑷=𝒎×𝒗 𝒎
(𝑖𝑛 𝑆𝐼 𝑷 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝒌𝒈. 𝒔 )

 Linear Momentum 𝑷 is a vector quantity, it has same direction as 𝒗

 Since Linear momentum is the product of mass and velocity, an
object's momentum changes whenever its mass or velocity changes.
 Linear Momentum

 Click to play the video

The following example clearly illustrates
why the vector nature of momentum must
be taken into account when determining the
change in momentum of an object.

 The figure shows two objects,

a beanbag bear and a rubber
ball, each with the same mass
and same downward speed just
before hitting the floor.

 What is the change in

momentum of each of the
objects?
 If the beanbag has a mass of 1 kg and is moving
downward with a speed of 4 m/s just before
coming to rest on the floor, then its change in
momentum is

 A 1-kg rubber ball with a speed of 4 m/s just

before hitting the floor will bounce upward with
the same speed. Therefore, the ball's change in
momentum is
 Application 1 (page 33 on the book)

𝑷=𝒎×𝒗
Linear Momentum of a system
of particles
 The total momentum of a system of particles is the vector sum
of the linear momenta of its particles:

 𝑷𝒔𝒚𝒔 = 𝑷𝟏 + 𝑷𝟐 + 𝑷𝟑 … . +𝑷𝒏 = 𝑷𝒊
= 𝑚1 𝑣1 + 𝑚2 𝑣2 + … . . +𝑚𝑛 𝑣𝑛
 Due to the vector nature of momentum, it is possible for a
system of several moving objects to have a total momentum that
is positive, negative, or zero.
Linear Momentum of the
center of mass of a system

 The position vector of the center of mass of the above system is

given by:
𝑚1 𝑟1 + 𝑚2 𝑟2 + … . . +𝑚𝑛 𝑟𝑛 Where m is the mass

𝑟𝐺 =
of each particle, which
is constant, and 𝑟 is its
𝑚1 + 𝑚2 + … . . +𝑚𝑛 position vector
 Differentiate both sides w.r.t time:
𝑚1 𝑣1 + 𝑚2 𝑣2 + … . . +𝑚𝑛 𝑣𝑛
𝑣𝐺 =
𝑚1 + 𝑚2 + … . . +𝑚𝑛
Thus, 𝑀𝑣𝐺 = 𝑚1 𝑣1 + 𝑚2 𝑣2 + … . . +𝑚𝑛 𝑣𝑛

So, 𝑷𝑮 = 𝑷𝒔𝒚𝒔
 Conclusion: The linear momentum of a system of particles of
constant mass is equal to the linear momentum of the center of
mass of the system.
Application 2 (page 33 on the book)

𝑷𝒔𝒚𝒔 = 𝑷𝟏 + 𝑷𝟐 + 𝑷𝟑 … . +𝑷𝒏
𝑷𝑮 = 𝑷𝒔𝒚𝒔
 General Expression of
newton’s 2nd Law
 The time derivative of the linear momentum of a particle is equal to
the vector sum of the external forces acting on this particle:
𝑑𝑃
𝐹𝑒𝑥𝑡 = (For short duration of time 𝑑𝑃 =
∆𝑃
)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 ∆𝑡

𝒅𝒗 𝒎𝒅𝒗 𝒅𝒎𝒗 𝒅𝑷
( 𝑭𝒆𝒙𝒕 = 𝒎𝒂 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂= ⇒ 𝑭𝒆𝒙𝒕 = = = )
𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒕

 The sum of the external forces acting on a system of particles is

equal to the linear momentum of its center of mass
𝒅𝑷𝒔𝒚𝒔
𝑭𝒆𝒙𝒕 = but 𝑷𝒔𝒚𝒔 = 𝑷𝑮 = 𝑴𝒗𝑮 ⇒ 𝒅𝑷𝒔𝒚𝒔 = 𝑴𝒂𝑮
𝒅𝒕
So, the center of mass theorem will be

𝑭𝒆𝒙𝒕 = 𝑴𝒂𝑮
Application 3 (page 34 on the book)