AP Physics 1 - Momentum and Impulse

IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM

REVIEW

The momentum of an object is the product of its mass and velocity. If you want to change
the momentum of an object, you must apply an impulse, which is the product of force and
the time during which the force acts. If there are no external forces acting on a system of
objects, the momentum is said to be conserved, that is, the total momentum of the system
before some event (like a collision) is equal to the total momentum after that event. In
this chapter, we will discuss examples of both one- and two-dimensional collisions.

The content contained in all sections of chapter 7 of the textbook is included on the AP
Physics B exam.

QUICK REFERENCE

Important Terms

impulse
The product of the average force acting on an object and the time during which it
acts. Impulse is a vector quantity, and can also be calculated by finding the area
under a force versus time curve.
linear momentum
The product of the mass of an object and its velocity. Momentum is a vector
quantity, and thus the total linear momentum of a system of objects is the vector
sum of the individual momenta of the objects in the system.
internal forces
The forces which act between the objects of a system
external forces
The forces which act on the objects of a system from outside the system, that is by
an agent which is not a part of the system of objects which are being studied.
inelastic collision
A collision between two or more objects in which momentum is conserved but
kinetic energy is not conserved, such as two railroad cars which collide and lock
together.
elastic collision
A collision between two or more objects in which both momentum and kinetic
energy are conserved, such as in the collision between two steel balls.
center of mass
The point at which the total mass of a system of masses can be considered to be
concentrated.

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Equations and Symbols

p = mv where

J = FΔt = Δp = mv f − mv 0 p = momentum
m = mass
m1 x1 + m2 x 2
xcm = v = velocity
m1 + m2 J = impulse
F = force
Δt = time interval during which a force
acts
xcm = position of the center of mass of a
system of particles
x1 = position of a mass relative to a
chosen origin

DISCUSSION OF SELECTED SECTIONS

7.1 The Impulse – Momentum Theorem

The momentum p of an object is the product of the mass m of the object and its velocity
v:

p = mv

The momentum of a moving mass is a vector which has a direction that is the same as
the velocity of the mass. Thus, the momentum of an object can be broken down into its
components:
py
p
p = px + py
px

where px = pcosθ and py = psinθ .

The magnitude of the momentum vector can be found by the Pythagorean theorem:
2 2
p = px + p y

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Newton’s second law states that an unbalanced (net) force acting on a mass will
accelerate the mass in the direction of the force. Another way of saying this is that a net
force acting on a mass will cause the mass to change its momentum. We can rearrange
the equation for Newton’s second law to emphasize the change in momentum:

⎛ Δv ⎞
Fnet = ma = m⎜ ⎟
⎝ Δt ⎠

Rearranging this equation by dividing both sides by Δt gives

FΔt = mΔv = mv f − mv 0

The left side of the equation (FΔt) is called the impulse, and the right side is the change
in momentum. This equation reflects the impulse-momentum theorem, and in words can
be stated “a force acting on a mass during a time causes the mass to change its
momentum”. The force F in this equation is the average force acting over the time
interval.

Example 1
One of the photographs in chapter 7 of your textbook shows a tennis ball striking a tennis
racquet, applying an impulse to it. Suppose the 0.1 kg ball strikes the racquet with a
velocity of 60 m/s at an angle of 30° from a line which is perpendicular to the face of the
racquet and rebounds with a speed of 60 m/s at 30° above the perpendicular line, as
shown below. The ball is in contact with the strings of the racquet for 12 milliseconds.
y

+x

30˚

Find
(a) the magnitude and direction of the average impulse exerted on the ball by the strings
of the racquet, and
(b) the magnitude of the average acceleration of the ball while it is in contact with the
strings.

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Solution:
(a) The strings of the racquet exert a force and thus an impulse which is perpendicular to
the face of the racquet, that is, along the +x – axis in the figure above. Therefore the
change in momentum of the ball is also only along the +x – axis:
FΔt = Δp x = mΔv x = m( v fx − v 0 x )
where v 0 x = −v 0 cos 30 and v0 x = +v f cos 30
So the impulse is
m m
(0.1 kg )[60 cos 30 − (−60 cos 30)] = 10.4 N s
s s
(b) Since the force is applied in the +x – direction, the average acceleration is must also
be directed along the +x – axis, that is, there is no acceleration along the y-axis.
m m
[60 cos 30 − (−60 cos 30)]
Δv s s m
ax = = = 8700 2
Δt 0.012 s s

7.2 The Principle of Conservation of Linear Momentum

We’ve seen that if you want to change the momentum of an object or a system of
objects, Newton’s second law says that you have to apply an unbalanced force. This
implies that if there are no unbalanced forces acting on a system, the total momentum of
the system must remain constant. This is another way of stating Newton’s first law, the
law of inertia, discussed in chapter 4. If the total momentum of a system remains constant
during a process, such as an explosion or collision, we say that the momentum is
conserved. The principle of conservation of linear momentum states that the total
linear momentum of an isolated system remains constant (is conserved). An isolated
system is one for which the vector sum of the external forces acting on the system is zero.

Typically, the AP Physics B exam includes the following types of problems which use
the principle of conservation of linear momentum: recoil in one and two dimensions,
inelastic collisions in one and two dimensions, and elastic collisions in one and two
dimensions. Remember, if a momentum vector is conserved, its components are also
conserved.

Example 2
A toy cannon (m1 = 2 kg) is mounted to two horizontal rails on which it can slide with
negligible friction. The cannon fires a ball (m2 = 0.025 kg) at a speed vf2 = 40 m/s at an
angle of 60° above the horizontal.
(a) Is the total momentum of the system conserved during the firing of the cannon?
Explain.
(b) What is the recoil velocity of the cannon after it is fired?

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Solution: Let’s sketch the cannon and ball before and after they are fired:
Before After

pf2y

p2f2

pf2x
p1x
60˚ 60˚

(a) The total momentum is not conserved in this case, since the horizontal rail provides an
external force acting on the cannon in the vertical direction. Since there is negligible
friction acting horizontally on the cannon, we can say that momentum is conserved in the
horizontal direction, but not in the vertical direction.

(b) Since momentum is conserved in the horizontal direction, we can set the momentum
of the system (cannon and ball) before the collision, which is zero, equal to the
momentum of the system after the collision.
p 0 = p f 1x + p f 2 x
0 = m1 v f 1x + m2 v f 2 x
0 = m1v f 1x + m2 v f 2 cos 60
Solving for the horizontal recoil velocity of the cannon, we get
m
− m2 v f 2 cos 60 − (0.025 kg )(40 s ) cos 60 m
v f 1x = = = − 0.25
m1 2 kg s

7.3 Collisions in One Dimension

Example 4
A lump of clay (m1 = 0.2 kg) moving horizontally with a speed vo1 = 16 m/s strikes and
sticks to a wood block (m2 = 3 kg) which is initially at rest on the edge of a horizontal
table of height h = 1.5 m. Neglecting friction, find
(a) the horizontal distance x from the edge of the table at which the clay and block strike
the floor, and
(b) the total momentum of the clay and block just before they strike the floor.

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Solution: The sketches below represent the system before, during, and after the collision.
Before During After

(a) Before we can find the horizontal distance the clay and block travel we need to find
their speed vf as they leave the edge of the table. Momentum is conserved in this inelastic
collision:
po = p f
m1 v o1 = (m1 + m2 ) v f
m
(0.2 kg )(16 )
m1vo1 s =1m
vf = =
(m1 + m2 ) (0.2 kg + 3.0 kg ) s
Now the clay and block have become a projectile which is launched horizontally. We can
find the time of flight by using the height:
1
h = gt 2
2
2h 2(1.5 m)
t= = = 0.55 s
g m
10 2
s
m
Then the horizontal distance traveled is x = v f t = (1 )(0.55 s ) = 0.55 m
s
(b) The momentum of the clay and block just before it strikes the ground can be found by
finding the horizontal and vertical components of the momentum:
m kg m
p x = mv x = (3.2 kg )(1 ) = 3.2
s s
m kg m
p y = mv y = m( gt ) = (3.2 kg )(10 2 )(0.55 s ) = 17.6
s s
By the Pythagorean theorem, the magnitude of the momentum can be found by
2 2 kg m 2 kg m 2 kg m
p= p x + p y = (3.2 ) + (17.6 ) = 17.9
s s s
The angle at which the momentum is directed is
⎡ py ⎤ −1 ⎡17.6 ⎤
θ = tan −1 ⎢ ⎥ = tan ⎢ = 80° below the horizontal.
⎣ px ⎦ ⎣ 3.2 ⎥⎦

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Example 5
A white pool ball (m1 = 0.3 kg) moving at a speed of vo1 = +3 m/s collides head-on with a
red pool ball (m2 = 0.4 kg) initially moving at a speed of vo2 = - 2 m/s. Neglecting friction
and assuming the collision is perfectly elastic, what is the velocity of each ball after the
collision?

Solution: The sketches below represent the system before and after the collision.
Before After

vo1 vo2
vf1 vf2

white red
white red

Since momentum is conserved in this collision, we can set the total momentum of the
system before the collision equal to the total momentum after the collision:

p 01 + p 02 = p f 1 + p f 2
m1v 01 + m2 v 02 = m1v f 1 + m2 v f 2

Solving for vf1 we get

m1v01 + m2 v02 − m2 v f 2
vf1 =
m1

But here we have two unknowns, vf1 and vf2, and only one equation. We can generate
another equation containing the same variables if we remember that both momentum and
kinetic energy are conserved in an elastic collision.
KE 01 + KE 02 = KE f 1 + KE f 2
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
m1v01 + m2 v02 = m1v f 1 + m2 v f 2
2 2 2 2
Substituting the equation solved above for vf1 into the equation for conservation of kinetic
energy, we get one equation with only one unknown, namely vf2. Substituting the known
values into this equation and solving for vf2 gives vf2 = +2.3 m/s. Solving for vf1 in the
equation above gives vf1 = - 2.7 m/s.

It can be shown that if we solve the equations for conservation of momentum and
conservation of kinetic energy simultaneously, it always turns out that the relative speeds
of the two masses remains the same (except for a negative sign) before and after a

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perfectly elastic collision regardless of the masses of the two objects. That is,
v 01 − v 02 = −( v f 1 − v f 2 )

7.4 Collisions in Two Dimensions

Example 6
The diagram below shows a collision between a white pool ball (m1 = 0.3 kg) moving at a
speed v01 = 5 m/s in the +x direction and a blue pool ball (m2 = 0.6 kg) which is initially at
rest. The collision is not head-on, so the balls bounce off of each other at the angles
shown. Find the final speed of each ball after the collision.

Before After

+y +y vf2

v01

65˚
+x +x
blue 25˚
white
vf1

Solution: The components of the momenta before and after the collision are conserved.

Writing the x – components of the momentum before and after the collision:

p 01x + p 02 x = p f 1x + p f 2 x
m1 v 01x + m2 v 02 x = m1 v f 1x + m2 v f 2 x
m
(0.3 kg )(5 ) = (0.3 kg )(v f 1 cos 25 + (0.6 kg )(v f 2 cos 65)
s
Here we have two unknowns, vf1 and vf2, and only one equation so far. When we write the
conservation of momentum equation for the y-components of the momentum of each
ball, we see that the total momentum in the y direction is zero before the collision, and
thus must be zero after the collision.

p 01 y + p 02 y = p f 1 y + p f 2 y
0 = m1 v f 1 y + m2 v f 2 y
0 = (0.3 kg )(v f 1 sin 25) + (0.6 kg )(v f 2 sin 65)

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Solving these two equations simultaneously for the unknown speeds gives vf1 = 1.8 m/s
and vf2 = 4 m/s. In any two-dimensional elastic collision in which one mass is at rest, the
angle between the two objects after the collision will be 90°.

7.5 Center of Mass

The center of mass of a system of particles can be thought of as the point at which all of
the mass of the system can be considered to be concentrated. The equation given to you
in your textbook used for calculating the center of mass of two objects on the x – axis is

m1 x1 + m 2 x 2
xcm =
(m1 + m2 )

This equation is typically not needed on the AP Physics B exam, but the concept of
center of mass is important in many applications on the AP exam. For a conservation law
to be true, it must hold true in any inertial reference frame, including the reference frame
of the center of mass. If we multiply both sides of the center of mass equation above by
the total mass (m1 + m2), we get

(m1 + m2 ) xcm = m1 x1 + m2 x 2

If the two objects are moving, each x is changing with respect to time, we can replace
Δx
each x with Δx, and divide both sides by Δt. The ratio is velocity, so our center of
Δt
mass equation becomes

(m1 + m2 )vcm = m1v1 + m2 v 2

In words, this equation says that the momentum of the center of mass is equal to the sum
of the momenta of each of the particles, which is conservation of momentum. If we take
the rate of change of this equation, we get

(m1 + m2 )a cm = m1 a1 + m2 a 2

which is an expression of Newton’s second law, that is, the net force acting on the center
of mass of a system of particles is equal to the sum of the forces acting on the individual
particles. Here we have written the scalar form of these equations, since we are assuming
all velocities, accelerations, and forces to be directed along the x – axis. As your textbook
shows, often we can solve problems from the reference frame of the center of mass.

Example 7
Two masses m and 2m are connected by a spring and rest on a horizontal table on which
friction can be neglected. The two masses are pulled apart to a length L and released from
rest. Describe
(a) the location of the center of mass before the masses are released, and
(b) the motion of the center of mass after the masses are released from rest.

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Solution:
(a) The center of mass will be located closer to the greater mass. In fact, the center of
1 2
mass will be located at a distance of L from 2m and L from m.
3 3

(b) Before the masses are released, the center of mass is at rest. After the masses are
released, there are no external forces acting on the center of mass, and therefore the
momentum of the center of mass does not change, remaining at rest while the two masses
oscillate about it. It also follows that the momentum of block m is equal and opposite to
block 2m at all times during the oscillation of the masses.

REVIEW QUESTIONS
For each multiple choice question below, choose the BEST answer.

1. A 0.2-kg hockey puck is sliding along Questions 2 – 3: A net force is applied to

the ice with an initial speed of 12 m/s a block of mass 4 kg according to the
when a player strikes it with his stick, Force vs. time graph below.
causing it to reverse its direction and
giving it a speed of 23 m/s. The impulse
the stick applies to the puck is most
nearly
(A) - 2 N s
(B) - 6 N s
(C) - 7 N s
(D) - 70 N s
(E) - 120 N s

2. The impulse given to the mass

between 1 and 5 seconds is most nearly
(A) 20 N s
(B) 16 N s
(C) 12 N s
(D) 10 N s
(E) 4 N s

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5. A block of mass m slides with a speed

3. If the mass starts from rest at t = 1 s, vo on a frictionless surface and collides
the speed of the mass at t = 5 s is most with another mass M which is initially at
nearly rest. The two blocks stick together and
m v
(A) 20 move with a speed of o . In terms of
s 3
m m, mass M is most nearly
(B) 16
s m
(A)
m 4
(C) 12
s m
(B)
m 3
(D) 8
s m
(C)
m 2
(E) 4
s (D) 2m
(E) 3m

4. An astronaut floating at rest in space

throws a wrench in one direction and
subsequently recoils back with a velocity
in the opposite direction. Which of the
following statements is/are true? 6. The vector diagram above represents
I. The velocity of the wrench is equal the momenta of two objects after they
and opposite to the velocity of the collide. One of the objects is initially at
astronaut. rest. Which of the following vectors may
II. The momentum of the wrench is represent the initial momentum of the
equal and opposite to the momentum other object before the collision?
of the astronaut.
III. The impulse applied to the wrench is (A)
equal and opposite to the impulse
applied to the astronaut.
(A) I only (B)
(B) II only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only (C)
(E) I, II, and III

(D)

(E) zero

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9. The total momentum of the two balls

+y after the collision is most nearly
4 kg
kg m
(A) 1
s
+x
kg m
(B) 2
3 kg s
kg m
7. Two objects of mass 4 kg and 3 kg (C) 3
approach each other at a right angle as s
shown above. The 4-kg mass moves kg m
(D) 4
along the +x – axis with an initial speed s
of 5 m/s, and the 3-kg mass moves in the (E) zero
+y – direction with a speed of 5 m/s. The
two masses collide at the origin and stick 10. A bullet moving with an initial speed
together. Measured from the +x – axis, of v0 strikes and embeds itself in a block
the angle of the resulting momentum of of wood which is suspended by a string,
the two objects after the collision is most causing the bullet and block to rise to a
nearly maximum height h. Which of the
(A) 30° above the +x – axis following statements is true of the
(B) 37° above the +x – axis collision?
(C) 45° above the +x – axis (A) The initial kinetic energy of the
(D) 53° above the +x – axis bullet before the collision is equal to
(E) 60° above the +x – axis the kinetic energy of the bullet and
block immediately after the collision.
+y (B) The initial kinetic energy of the
bullet before the collision is equal to
the potential energy of the bullet and
+x block when they reach the maximum
height h.
Questions 8 – 9: A 0.2-kg billiard ball (C) The initial momentum of the bullet
approaches an identical ball at rest with before the collision is equal to the
a speed of 10 m/s along the +x - axis, as momentum of the bullet and block at
shown above. The collision between the the instant they reach the maximum
balls is perfectly elastic, and after the height h.
collision the incident ball moves at an (D) The initial momentum of the bullet
angle of 50° below the x – axis. before the collision is equal to the
momentum of the bullet immediately
8. The angle at which the target ball after the collision.
moves after the collision above the +x – (E) The kinetic energy of the bullet and
axis is most nearly block immediately after the collision
is equal to the potential energy of the
(A) 10°
bullet and block at the instant they
(B) 40°
reach the maximum height h.
(C) 50°
(D) 90°
(E) 140°

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Open Ended Questions

Directions: Show all work in working the following question. The question is worth 15
points, and the suggested time for answering the question is about 15 minutes. The parts
within a question may not have equal weight.

vo

1. (15 points)
A block of mass m is moving on a horizontal frictionless surface with a speed vo as it
approaches a block of mass 2m which is at rest and has an ideal spring attached to one
side. When the two blocks collide, the spring is completely compressed and the two
blocks momentarily move at the same speed, and then separate again, each continuing to
move.
(a) Briefly explain why the two blocks have the same speed when the spring is
completely compressed.
(b) Determine the speed vf of the two blocks while the spring is completely compressed.
(c) Determine the kinetic energy of the two blocks as they move together with the same
speed.
(d) When the spring expands, the blocks are again separated, and the spring returns its
compressed potential energy to kinetic energy in the two blocks. On the axes below,
sketch a graph of kinetic energy vs. time from the time block m approaches block 2m
until the two blocks are separated after the collision.

KE

(e) Write the equations that could be used to solve for the speed of each block after they
have separated. It is not necessary to solve these equations for the two speeds.

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ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS TO CHAPTER 7 REVIEW QUESTIONS

Multiple Choice

1. A
FΔt = m(v f − v0 ) = (0.2 kg )(−23
m m
− 12 ) = −7 N s
s s
2. B
The impulse is equal to the area under the graph from 1 s to 5 s = 16 N s.

3. D
m
Impulse = 16 N s = (4 kg )(v f − 0) gives vf = 4 .
s
4. D
Conservation of momentum indicates that the two momenta are equal and opposite, and
since they both experience the same force during the same time interval, the impulses
must also be equal and opposite. Since the two masses are different, their velocities
would not be the same.

5. D
Conservation of momentum for the inelastic collision gives
⎛v ⎞
mv0 = (m + M )⎜ 0 ⎟ , implying that M = 2m.
⎝3⎠
6. B
Conservation of momentum states that the momentum vector before the collision must
equal the vector sum of the momenta after the collision. Adding the two vectors tip-to-tail
gives a resultant which points in the direction of the vector arrow in answer (B).

7. B
After the collision, there is one mass of 7 kg moving upward and to the right.
Measuring the angle θ from the +x – axis, the conservation of momentum equations in
the horizontal and vertical directions are
p 0 x = p fx
(4 kg )(5 kg ) = (7 kg )v f cosθ and
p 0 y = p fy
(3 kg )(5 kg ) = (7 kg )v f sin θ
Dividing the y-component equation by the x-component equation yields
15
= tan θ which implies that θ = 37° from the +x – axis.
20

8. B
In a perfectly elastic collision, the angle between the two momentum vectors after the
collision must add to 90°. So, 90° – 50° = 40° below the +x – axis.

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9. B
Conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of the system is equal to the
total momentum after the collision. Since the total momentum before the collision is
(0.2 kg)(10 m/s) = 2 kg m/s, the total momentum after the collision is also 2 kg m/s.

10. E
During the inelastic collision between the bullet and the block, kinetic energy is lost. But
the kinetic energy of the bullet and block immediately after the collision is transformed
into potential energy at their maximum height.

Free Response Question Solution

1. We begin by drawing the situation before, during, and after the collision:
Before During After

(a) 2 points
When the spring is completely compressed, the two blocks are at rest relative to each
other and must have the same speed. At this point, it is as if they are stuck together
immediately after an inelastic collision.

(b) 3 points
Conservation of momentum:
mv0 = (m + 2m)v f
v0
vf =
3
(c) 3 points
2
1 ⎛v ⎞ 1 2
K= (3m)⎜ 0 ⎟ = mv0
2 ⎝3⎠ 6

(d) 3 points
KE

The dip in the graph indicates the time during which the spring is compressed. After the
blocks separate, all of the kinetic energy is restored to the system.

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(e) 4 points
Since the kinetic energy is the same before the collision and after the blocks have
separated, it is as if the blocks have undergone and elastic collision, where both
momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. Thus, two equations that could be solved
for the speeds after the blocks separate are
1 2 1 2 1 2
mv0 = mv f 1 + mv f 2 and mv0 = mv f 1 + mv f 2
2 2 2

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