LECTURE NOTES IN ENGINEERING MECHANICS

CHAPTER 7 – IMPULSE AND MOMENTUM

7.1 Linear momentum

Momentum is a quantity describes an object’s resistance to stopping. In Physics,
momentum is defined as the product of an object’s mass and its velocity:

M =mv

where M is linear momentum, v is the linear velocity, and m is the mass of the object.
The velocity v is a vector and is multiplied by a scalar quantity mass m. The product
is thus a vector as well. The momentum vector M and the velocity vector v are
parallel to each other; that is, they point in the same direction.

7.2 Impulse
Impulse is a quantity that describes the effect of net force acting on a moving object.
It is the product of the net force acting on an object and its duration.

I =t =∑ Ft

where I is the impulse, Fnet is the net force acting on the moving object at duration t.
The net force v is a vector and is multiplied by a scalar quantity mass t. The product
is thus a vector as well. The impulse vector I and the forces vector are parallel to
each other; that is, they point in the same direction.

7.3 Impulse-Momentum Theorem

The impulse-momentum theorem states that the change in momentum of an object
equals the impulse applied to it.

△ (mv)=t =∑ Ft

If the mass of the object is constant, then

m △ v =t =∑ Ft

7.4 Conservation of Linear Momentum

Suppose two objects collide with each other. They might then rebound away from
each other, like two billiard balls on a billiard table. This kind of collision is called an

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elastic collision. Another example of a collision is that of a subcompact car with an

18-wheeler, where the two vehicles stick to each other. This kind of collision is
called a totally inelastic collision. A totally inelastic collision is one in which the
colliding objects stick to each other after colliding. This result implies that both
objects have the same velocity vector after the collision.
If the net external force on a system is zero the change in momentum is zero, or the
momentum is conserved. In a collision involving two masses we can write
' '
m 1 v 1+ m2 v 2=m1 v 1 +m2 v 2

Where v1 & v2 are the velocities of the objects before impact while v 1’ and v2’ are the
velocities of the objects after impact.

Coefficient of restitution, e
Coefficient of restitution is the ratio of the magnitudes of the final and initial relative
velocities in a collision.

v 2' −v 1'
e=
v 1−v 2
for elastic collision, e = 1, thus

v1 −v 2=v 2' −v 1'

for totally inelastic collision, e = 0, thus

' '
v 2 =v 1

and for partially inelastic collision, 0 < e < 1

Kinetic energy loss in partially inelastic collisions is

1 m1 m2 (
1−e ) ( v 1−v 2)
2 2
KE loss=
2 m1+ m2

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SAMPLE PROBLEM 7.1

What momentum does a 20 kg projectile possess if the projectile is moving at
constant velocity of 675 kph?

Solution:
Given: Mass, m = 20 kg

Velocity,
Momentum, M

SAMPLE PROBLEM 7.2

A 50 KN truck traveling with a speed of 50 kph hits a post and is brought to rest in
0.1 s. Determine the force induced by the truck on the post.

Solution:
Given: Weight, W = 50 KN = 50,000 N

Velocity,

Force induced by the truck on the post

v = 50 kph v = 50 kph

  = 50  KN
W   = 50  KN
  W  
               
           

v = 50 kph

  = 50  KN F
W  
            
SAMPLE PROBLEM 7.3
A car of mass m1 = 2000 kg is moving at speed v1= 20m/s towards East. A truck of
mass m2 = 5000 kg is moving at speed v2 = 10m/s towards North. They collide at an
intersection and get entangled (complete inelastic collision). What is the magnitude
and direction of the final velocity of the entangled automobiles?

Solution:
Given: m1 = 2000 kg
v1= 20m/s towards East
m2 = 5000 kg

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v2 = 10m/s towards North

Conservation of Linear Momentum
equation along x-axis

before collision

v1 = 40 kph
v2 = 40 kph

Conservation of Linear Momentum

equation along y-axis

Magnitude of the velocity after impact y

 
v’y
during collision v’
θ

 
Direction of the velocity after impact v’x

SAMPLE PROBLEM 7.4

A mass m1 = 2 kg moving with a speed v1 = 10m/s (elastically) collides with another
mass m2 = 4 kg initially at rest. Determine the velocities after impact.

Solution:
Given: m1 = 2 kg
v1= 10m/s
m2 = 4 kg
v2 = 0
Conservation of Linear Momentum equation

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For elastic collision

Equate equation 1 and 2

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PROBLEMS – SET 7
Instruction: Do as required. Present in writing the full details of your answer or
solutions. The grades you earn for each item will be based on correctness,
completeness and clarity of presentation.

PROBLEM 7.1
1. A tennis ball moving horizontally to the left at 40 m/s hits a racket and
rebounds horizontally to the right at 30 m/s. If the mass of the ball is 100
grams, find the impulse of the force (in kg-m/s) exerted on the ball by the
racket.
a. 7 N-s c. 14 N-s
b. 1 N-s d. 21 N-s

PROBLEM 7.2
A man of mass m = 65 kg jumps off a table at height h = 2 m. While hitting the floor
he bends his knees such that the time of contact is 0.1 s.
2. Determine the force exerted by the floor on you.
a. 4271.72 N c. 4371.72 N
b. 4171.72 N d. 4071.72 N
3. If the student does not bend his knees the time of contact is 10 ms. Determine
the new force exerted by the floor now.
c. 42717.2 KN c. 43717.2 KN
d. 41717.2 KN d. 40717.2 KN

PROBLEM 7.3
A 10 g block slides with a velocity of 20 cm/s on a smooth level surface and makes a
collision with a 30 g block moving in the opposite direction with a velocity of 10
cm/s. If the collision is perfectly elastic,
4. what is the velocity of the 30 g block after the collision?
a. 20 cm/s c. 15 cm/s
b. 5 cm/s d. 10c m/s
5. what is the velocity of the 10 g block after the collision?
a. 20 cm/s c. 5 cm/s
b. 25 cm/s d. 15 cm/s

PROBLEM 7.4
6. A shooter of mass m2 = 80 kg shoots a bullet of mass m1 = 4 g horizontally,
standing on a frictionless surface at rest. If the muzzle velocity of the bullet is v1
= 500 m/s, what is the recoil speed of the shooter?
a. 0.045 m/s c. 0.025 m/s
b. 0.015 m/s d. 0.035 m/s

PROBLEM 7.5
7. A shooter of mass m2 = 80 kg shoots a bullet of mass m1 = 3 g in a direction θ =
60.0◦ with respect to the horizontal, standing on a frictionless surface at rest. If
the muzzle velocity of the bullet is v1 = 500 m/s, what is the recoil speed of the
shooter?
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a. 0.009575 m/s c. 0.009475 m/s

b. 0.009275 m/s d. 0.009375 m/s

PROBLEM 7.6
8. A bullet with mass m1 = 3 g is fired into a wooden block of mass m2 = 2 kg, that
hangs like a pendulum. The bullet is embedded in the block (complete inelastic
collision). The block with the bullet embedded in it goes h = 40 cm high after
collision. Determine the speed of the bullet before it hit the block.
a. 1570 m/s c. 1670 m/s
b. 1870 m/s d. 1770 m/s

PROBLEM 7.7
9. An electron collides elastically with a stationary hydrogen atom. The mass of
the hydrogen atom is 1800 times that of the electron. Assume that all motion,
before and after the collision, occurs along the same straight line. Determine
the ratio of the kinetic energy of the hydrogen atom after the collision to that of
the electron before the collision?
a. 0.0022 c. 0.0024
b. 0.0021 d. 0.0023

PROBLEM 7.8
10. A soccer ball with a mass of 450 g bounces off the crossbar of a goal and is
deflected upward at an angle of 60° with respect to horizontal. Immediately
after the deflection, the kinetic energy of the ball is 50 J. What are the vertical
and horizontal components of the ball’s momentum immediately after striking
the crossbar?
a. 12.91 m/s & 7.45 m/s c. 12.91 m/s & 7.45 m/s
b. 12.91 m/s & 7.45 m/s d. 12.91 m/s & 7.45 m/s

PROBLEM 7.9
Delfa falls from a building and is caught by the diving superhero. Assuming that
Delfa with a mass of 55 kg is falling at a terminal velocity of 70 m/s,
11. Determine the average force is exerted on her if it takes 0.1 s to slow her to a
stop.
a. 32500 N c. 38500 N
b. 34500 N d. 36500 N
12. If Lois can withstand a maximum acceleration of 7g, determine the minimum
time should it take Superman to stop her after he begins to slow her down?
a. 1.12s c. 1.22 s
b. 1.02 s d. 1.32 s

PROBLEM 7.10
An 80 kg running back leaps straight ahead toward the end zone with a speed of 8
m/s. A 110 kg line-backer is keeping his feet on the ground, catches the running
back and applies a force of 800N in the opposite direction for 0.5 s before the
running back’s feet touch the ground.
13. Determine the impulse that the line-backer imparts to the running back.
a. 400 N-s c. 240 N-s
b. 650 N-s d. 640 N-s
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14. Determine change in the running back’s momentum does the impulse produce.
a. 400 N-s c. 240 N-s
b. 650 N-s d. 640 N-s
15. Determine the running back’s momentum when his feet touch the ground.
a. 400 N-s c. 240 N-s
b. 650 N-s d. 640 N-s

PROBLEM 7.11
16. Three college students are floating on a 110 kg raft in the middle of a pond.
They decide to go swimming, and all jump off the raft at the same time and from
evenly spaced positions around the perimeter of the raft. One student, with a
mass of 60 kg, jumps off the raft at a speed of 10 m/s. The second student, of
mass 75 kg, jumps off the raft at a speed of 12 m/s. The third students, of mass
55 kg, jumps off the raft at a speed of 14 m/s. At what speed does the raft drift
from its original position?
a. 20.64 m/s c. 24.64 m/s
b. 26.64 m/s d. 22.64 m/s

PROBLEM 7.12
17. A missile is shot straight up into the air. At the peak of its trajectory, it breaks
up into three pieces of equal mass, all of which move horizontally away from
the point of the explosion. One piece travels in a direction of 30° east of north
with a speed of 32 m/s. The second piece travels in a direction of 12° south of
west with a speed of 10 m/s. Determine the magnitude and direction of the
velocity of the remaining piece.
a. 26.377 m/s, 13.64˚ south of west c. 26.377 m/s, 13.64˚ west of south
b. 27.377 m/s, 13.64˚ south of west d. 27.377 m/s, 13.64˚ west of south

PROBLEM 7.13
18. Two cars moving on a frictionless surface collide elastically. The first car of
mass 2000 kg is moving to the right with a speed of 24 m/s and rear-ends the
second car of mass 1500 kg which is also moving to the right at a speed of 10
m/s. What is the speed of the first car after the collision?
a. 12 m/s to the left c. 12 m/s to the right
b. 26 m/s to the right d. 26 m/s to the right

PROBLEM 7.14
19. An alpha particle of mass = 5 u has a head-on, elastic collision with a nucleus of
mass = 180 u that is initially at rest. Determine the percentage of the kinetic
energy of the alpha particle is transferred to the nucleus in the collision.
a. 10.52% c. 14.52%
b. 12.52% d. 16.52%

PROBLEM 7.15

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A 0.3 kg ball has an elastic collision with a second ball that is initially at rest. The
second ball moves off with half the original speed of the first ball.
20. What is the mass of the second ball?
a. 0.8 kg c. 0.6 kg
b. 0.9 kg d. 0.7 kg
21. What fraction of the original kinetic energy (△K/K) is transferred to the second
ball?
a. 75% c. 100%
b. 85% d. 125%

PROBLEM 7.16
22. A 1800kg car is traveling at a velocity of 15 m/s strikes an identical car at rest. If
the cars lock together as a result of the collision, what is their common velocity
after the collision?
a. 5m/s 15 m/s
b. 7.5 m/s 30 m/s
PROBLEM 7.17
A car of mass 1000 kg traveling at a speed of 20 m/s collides head on with a large
car of mass 3000 kg traveling in the opposite direction at a speed of 25 m/s. The
two cars stick together. The duration of the collision is 120 ms.
23. Determine the acceleration do the occupants of the 1000 kg car experience.
a. 291250 m/s2 c. 291250 m/s2
2
b. 281250 m/s d. 93750 m/s2
24. Determine the acceleration do the occupants of the 3000 kg car experience.
a. 291250 m/s2 c. 291250 m/s2
b. 281250 m/s 2
d. 93750 m/s2

PROBLEM 7.18
25. To determine the muzzle velocity of a bullet fired from a rifle, you shoot
the 2g bullet into a 4 kg wooden block. The block is suspended by wires
from the ceiling and is initially at rest. After the bullet is embedded in the
block, the block swings up to a maximum height of 2 cm above its initial
position, determine the velocity of the bullet on leaving the gun’s barrel.
a. 1353.46 m/s c. 1453.46 m/s
b. 1153.46 m/s d. 1253.46 m/s

PROBLEM 7.19
26. How fast would an 8 grams fly have to be traveling to slow a 2000 kg car
traveling at 80 kph by 5 kph if the fly hit the car in a totally inelastic head-on
collision?
a. 38750075 kph c. 37750075 kph
b. 39750075 kph d. 36750075 kph

PROBLEM 7.20

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27. A Super Ball has a coefficient of restitution of 0.9. If the ball is dropped from a
height of 4 m above the floor, what maximum height will it reach on its third
bounce?
a. 1.82 m c. 2.13 m
b. 1.72 m d. 1.62 m

PROBLEM 7.21
28. A Super Ball has a coefficient of restitution of 0.92. From what height should the
ball be dropped so that its maximum height on its fourth bounce is 2.5 m?
a. 4.47 m c. 4.67 m
b. 4.27 m d. 4.87 m

PROBLEM 7.22
29. A Super Ball is dropped from a height of 4 m. Its maximum height on its third
bounce is 2.62 m. What is the coefficient of restitution of the ball?
a. 0.9319 c. 0.9419
b. 0.9219 d. 0.9519

PROBLEM 7.23
30. A racquetball of mass 45 g has a speed of 16 m/s and collides with the wall of
the court at an angle of 45° relative to the normal to the wall. The coefficient of
restitution of the racquetball is 0.8. What is the angle relative to the normal at
which the ball leaves the wall?
a. 41.34˚ c. 56.34˚
b. 51.34˚ d. 46.34˚

PROBLEM 7.24
31. A racquetball of mass 45 g has a speed of 16 m/s and collides with the wall of
the court at an angle of 45° relative to the normal to the wall. The racquetball
leaves the wall at an angle of 55° relative to the normal to the wall. What is the
coefficient of restitution of the ball?
a. 0.6 c. 0.7
b. 0.9 d. 0.8

PROBLEM 7.25
32. A racquetball of mass 40 g has a speed of 16 m/s and collides with the wall of
the court. The ball leaves the wall at an angle of 60° relative to the normal to
the wall. The coefficient of restitution of the racquetball is 0.85. What is the
initial angle relative to the normal to the wall at which the ball hits the wall?
a. 55.81˚ c. 54.81˚
b. 53.81˚ d. 56.81˚

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