6

Conservation of Momentum

Refer to The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Vol. I, Chapter 10.

6.1 Whentwo bodies move along a line, there is a special system of coordinates
in which the momentum of one bodyis equal and opposite to that of the other.
That is, the total momentum of the two bodies is zero. This frame of referenceis
called the center-of-mass system (abbreviated CM). If the bodies have masses
m, and mz and are moving at speeds v; and v2, show that the CMsystem is
moving at speed
M1V1 + mM2V2
UCM =

Mm, + M2

6.2 Generalize Ex. 6.1 to any number of masses movingalonga line, i.e., show
that the speed of the coordinate system, in which the total momentum is zero, is
given by
» Miri
cM = .
Um
6.3 If T is the total kinetic energy of the two masses in Ex. 6.1, and Toy is their
total kinetic energy in the CM system, show that

T =Tew + (™ | 2
9 UCM:

6.4 Generalize the result of Ex. 6.3 to any number of masses. Show that

T = Tom +
VM»
VcM:
2

6.5 Two gliders with masses m and mz are free to move on a horizontalair
track. mg is stationary and m, collides with it perfectly elastically. They rebound
with equal and opposite velocities. What is the ratio m2/m, of their masses?

6.6 A neutron having a kinetic energy FE collides head-on with a stationary

nucleus of C!? and reboundsperfectly elastically in the direction from which it
came. Whatis its final kinetic energy E’?

6.7 A projectile of mass m = 10kgis shot vertically upward from the earth with
an initial velocity vp = 500ms7!.
(a) Calculate the recoil velocity of the earth vg.

(b) Calculate the ratio of the kinetic energy of the earth Tg to that of the
projectile J, at the moment of their separation.

(c) Sketch qualitatively the velocity and kinetic energy of the projectile and of
the earth versus time.

Neglect air resistance and the orbital motion of the earth.

6.8 A particle of mass m = 1.0kg, traveling at a speed V = 10ms™}, strikes a

particle at rest of mass M = 4.0kg and reboundsin the direction from whichit
came, with a speed Vp. If an amount of heat h = 20 joules is produced in the
collision, what is Vp? (Define all introduced quantities and state clearly from
what physical laws your initial equations are derived.)
6-1
 6.9 A machine gun mounted on the north end of a 10,000 kg, 5m long platform,
free to move on a horizontal air-bearing, fires bullets into a thick target mounted
on the south end of the platform. The gun fires 10 bullets of mass 100g each
every second at a muzzle velocity of 500ms~!. Does the platform move? If so,
in what direction and at what speed v?

6.10 A mass m, is connected by a cable over a pulley to a container of water,

which initially has a mass m2(t = 0) = mo, as shown in Fig. 6-1. The system
is then released and m2 (with help of an internal pump) ejects water in the
downward direction at a constant rate dm/dt = ro with a velocity vo relative to
the container. Find the acceleration a of mj, as a function of time. Neglect the
m
masses of cable and pulley.

6.11 A toboggan slides down an essentially frictionless, snow covered slope,

scooping up snow along the path. If the slope is 30° and the toboggan picks
up 0.50 kg of snow per meterof travel, calculate its acceleration a at an instant
whenits speed is 4.0ms~! andits mass (including content) is 9.0kg.

6.12 The end of a chain, of mass per unit length sy, at rest on a table top at t = 0,
Figure 6-1
is lifted vertically at a constant speed v, as shown in Fig. 6-2. Evaluate the
upwardlifting force F' as a function of time.

6.13 The speed of a rifle bullet may be measured by meansofa ballistic pendulum:
The bullet, of known mass m and unknown speed V, embedsitself in a stationary
wooden block of mass M, suspended as a pendulum of length L, as shown in
Fig. 6-3. This sets the block to swinging. The amplitude z of swing may be
measured and, using conservation of energy, the velocity of the block immediately
after impact may be found. Derive an expression for the speed of the bullet in
terms of m, M, L, and z.

Figure 6-2
6.14 Two gliders A and A’ are connected rigidly together and have a combined
mass M and are separated by a distance 2L. Another glider B of mass m,
length L, is constrained to move between A and A’, as shown in Fig. 6-4. All
gliders move on a very long linearair track without friction. All collisions between
/ / (A, A’) and B are perfectly elastic. Originally the whole system is at rest and
/ /
/ JUL glider B is in contact with glider A. A cap between A and B thenis exploded,
/ /
4—--}--+, giving a total kinetic energy T to the system.

LL ELIA (a) Show the qualitative features of B’s motion, i.e., position x on the track,
velocity v with respect to the track, by sketching x and vas functions of
x
time. Use the same time scale for both sketches.
Figure 6-3
(b) Calculate the period 79 in terms of T, L, m, and M.

Hint: The relative velocity of B with respect to (A, A’) is

rt Vrel = UB — V(A,A‘)-

JC] A

6.15 Two equally massive gliders, moving on a level air track at equal and
<< | — opposite, velocities, v and —v, collide almost elastically, and rebound with
slightly smaller speeds. They lose a fraction f < 1 of their kinetic energy in
Figure 6-4 the collision. If these same gliders collide with one of them initially at rest,
with what speed will the second glider move after the collision? (This small
residual speed Av may easily be measured in termsof the final speed vof the
originally stationary glider, and thus theelasticity of the spring bumpers may be
determined.)
Note: Ifx <1, Vl-re 1-2/2.

6-2
 A rocket of initial mass m = Mo ejects its burnt fuel at a constant
m/dt = —To and at a velocity Vo (relative to the rocket).

Calculate the initial acceleration a of the rocket (neglect gravity).

If Vo = 2.0kms™', at what rate ro mustfuel be ejected to develop 10° kg-wt
of thrust?

) Write a differential equation which connects the speed v of the rocket with
its residual mass m = M, andsolve the equation, if you can.

17 Anearthsatellite of mass 10 kg and average cross-sectional area 0.50 m?

moving in a circular orbit at 200 km altitude where the molecular mean free
Under
ths are many meters and theair density is about 1.6 x 10-!©kgm~3.
e crude assumption that the molecular impacts with the satellite are effectivel
elastic (but that the molecules do notliterally stick to the satellite but drop
P
way from it at low relative velocity),
(a) Calculate the retarding force Fz that the satellite would experience due to
air friction. |

(b) How should sucha frictional force vary with the satellite’s velocity v? Would
the satellite’s speed decrease as a result of the net force on it? (Check the
speed ofa circularsatellite orbit vs. height.)