Saint Louis University

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE

Department of Mechanical Engineering

MODULE 5: IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM

IMPULSE and MOMENTUM

IMPULSE (J)
Impulse of a force is defined as the product of a force and the time during which it
acts.
If we let F be the force and t be the time during which it acts, then
Impulse of the force
J = F(t); (N-s; Newton-seconds)
 Impulse (J) is a vector quantity. Its direction is the same as the direction of the force.
 If the force varies with time, then
t
J = ∫t 2 Fdt Where F is given as a function of time, t.
1

Example 1) A force of 100 N to the right is applied to a body for 5 seconds. What is the
impulse of the force?
J
F

J = Ft = (100N)(5s) = 500 N-s in the same direction as F

MOMENTUM (p)
Momentum is the product of the mass (m) of a body and its velocity (v).
p = m(v); (kg-m/sec)

 Momentum is a vector quantity. Its direction is the same as the direction of the velocity

MODULE 5: IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM 1

 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Example: A 10 kg block is initially moving to the right at 20 m/s. Determine the change in
momentum if : a ) finally the body is moving at 10 m/s to the left and b) the body is finally
moving at 5 m/s downward.
V1 = 20 m/s
Solution: a) initial condition:
10 kg p1

p1 = mv1 = 10kg (20m/s) = 200 kg-m/s

final condition:
V2 = 10 m/s
10 kg
p2

p2 = mv2 = 10kg (100m/s) = 100 kg-m/s

p = p2 – p1 = p2 + (–p1) = (-100 kg/m-s) + (– 200 kg-m/s) = - 300 kg-m/s
** FOLLOW THE RULES OF VECTOR ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION.

b) Initial condition: V1 = 20 m/s

10 kg p1 =10kg(20m/s) = 200 kg-m/s

Final condition:

10 kg

p2
V1 = 5 m/s

p2 = mv2 = 10kg (5m/s) = 50 kg-m/s

MODULE 5: IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM 2

 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

p = p2 – p1 = p2 + (-p1) (vector operation )

p = p2 – p1 p2 = 50 kg-m/s


- p1 = 200 kg-m/s

Using triangle method of adding vectors:

p = √𝒑𝟐𝟐 + 𝒑𝟐𝟏 = √𝟓𝟎𝟐 + 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟐 = 111.8 kg-m/s

Tan  = 200/50
 = 75.96o

The IMPULSE – MOMENTUM relation

As individual concepts, impulse and momentum would have few practical
applications. If we want to apply them in the analysis of physical phenomena, we have to
look at the relation between them.
Let a body of mass m be initially moving with a velocity v1. A force resultant force F is
then applied for a time t. The body will accelerate and attain a final velocity v2 after time t.

“Impulse applied to a body or system is equal to the change in the momentum of the body
or system. “
J = p2 - p1

MODULE 5: IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM 3

 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

EXAMPLE PROBLEM ON IMPULSE-MOMENTUM RELATION:

1. You throw a ball with a mass of 0.40 kg against a brick wall. It hits the wall moving
horizontally to the left at 30 m/s and rebounds horizontally to the right at 20m/s (a) Find
the impulse of the net force on the ball during its collision with the wall. (b) If the ball is
in contact with the wall for 0.010 s, find the average horizontal force that the wall
exerts on the ball during the impact.

MODULE 5: IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM 4

 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

2. A soccer ball has a mass of 0.40 kg. Initially it is moving to the left at but then it is
kicked. After the kick it is moving at 45° upward and to the right with speed of 30 m/s).
Find the impulse of the net force and the average net force, assuming a collision time
t = 0.01 seconds.

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

The LAW of CONSERVATION of MOMENTUM

From the Impulse-Momentum equation, it can be seen that if no force F is applied to a
body or system, the final momentum is equal to the initial momentum or the total
momentum of the body or system is conserved. This is the Law of Conservation of
Momentum.
“The total momentum of the body or system is conserved as long as no external force is
applied to the body or system.”

Computation of the Velocity of Recoil

A marksman holds a rifle of mass 3 kg loosely, so it can recoil freely. He fires a bullet of mass 5
grams horizontally with a velocity relative to the ground of vBX = 300 m/s. What is the recoil
velocity of the rifle? What are the final momentum and kinetic energy of the bullet and rifle?

MODULE 5: IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM 6

 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

MODULE 5: IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM 7

 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

COLLLISION OF BODIES
Collision is the forceful contact (impacts) between two bodies or among several
bodies. Collision can be classified as elastic when the kinetic energy of the colliding bodies is
conserved before and after collision or inelastic when the total energy after collision is less
than the total energy before collision. Super elastic collision is when total kinetic energy after
collision is greater than the total kinetic energy before collision.
In all types of collision, the law of conservation of momentum applies, that is

“The total momentum before collision = The total momentum after collision”
Collision is quite complicated to analyze especially when the bodies disintegrate in
several parts after collision. However, if we assume that the colliding bodies remain intact
after collision, then the analysis can be highly simplified. We will only be concerned with the
changes in the velocities of the colliding bodies.
In many cases, the law of conservation of momentum is not enough to analyze and
predict the outcome after collision. That’s why if necessary, the following additional relations
can be used:

1. For elastic collisions:

“The total kinetic energy before collision = The total kinetic energy after collision”

2. For all types of collisions

The coefficient of restitution (e) is equal to the negative ratio of the relative
velocity after collision to the relative velocity before collision.

𝑢1 − 𝑢2 𝑢2 − 𝑢1
𝑒= − =
𝑣1 − 𝑣2 𝑣1 − 𝑣2

Where: v1 = velocity of body 1 before collision

V2 = velocity of body 2 before collision
u1 = velocity of body 1 after collision
u2 = velocity of body 2 after collision
If the collision is elastic, e = 1. If inelastic, e has value less than 1.

If applicable and necessary, it is also possible to break down the law of conservation of
momentum into component, that is:

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

“The total momentum along the x-axis before collision = total momentum along the x-
axis after collision.” and

“The total momentum along the y-axis before collision = total momentum along the y-
axis after collision.”
This is usually being done in cases where the collision is oblique, that is, the bodies do
not move along the same line before and after collision.

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 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Assignment #4: due on July 9, 2020

1. A 20 kg body is initially moving at 30 m/s to the right along a frictionless horizontal

surface when a force F = 80 N is applied to it for 10 s. Determine its final velocity if a) F is
directed to the right, b) F is directed to the left, and c) F is applied at an angle of 60o N
of W.
2. A 0.25 kg baseball is travelling horizontally to the right at 40 m/s when it was hit by a
bat and it bounced off at 60 m/s 60o above the horizontal to the left. How much
impulse was applied to the ball by the baseball bat?
3. A 2.5 kg rifle fires a 50 gram bullet with a velocity of 300 m/s. Determine a) the velocity
of recoil of the rifle and b) the kinetic energy that will be absorbed by the one firing
the rifle.
4. A 5 kg block moving along a frictionless surface at 2 m/s to the right collides with a 10
kg block moving to the left at 5 m/s. Determine their velocities after collision if a) they
stick together after collision; b) the collision is elastic; and c) the collision is inelastic
wherein the coefficient of restitution is 0.8. How much kinetic energy is lost in this
particular collision?

MODULE 5: IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM 10

 Saint Louis University
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and ARCHITECTURE
Department of Mechanical Engineering

MODULE 5: IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM 11