02 - Momentum and Impulse
02 - Momentum and Impulse
Imagine a car moving with an initial velocity v1. Sometime later, the car is moving with a velocity v2. Assuming
the mass of the car has not changed, the car has experienced a change in momentum ∆ ⃗ p.
1. Why does a non-zero ∆ ⃗
p mean that a force has been applied?
p , using ⃗
2. Write an equation for the car’s ∆ ⃗ v 1 and ⃗
v 2. Simplify, using ∆ ⃗v .
∆ ⃗v
3. Write down Newton’s 2nd Law. Recall that a⃗ = and substitute into Newton’s 2nd Law. Rearrange your
∆t
equation so that one side of your equation looks like one side of your equation in question #2.
What you just derived in question #3 is known as the Impulse-Momentum Theorem. It states that a change in an
object’s momentum is due to an impulsive force being applied to the object for a certain amount of time.
⃗
F ∆ t=m ∆ ⃗v
4. What are the units of each side of the equation for the Impulse-Momentum Theorem?
5. Consider the following force-time graph for a force that is applied to an object. Notice that the force is not
constant.
(a) Calculate the area under the graph from 0 to 20
1.0 s. What are the units of the area under the
graph? 10
0
Force (N)
(d) Assuming the final velocity of the object is 0.5 m/s [right], what was the object’s initial velocity?
6. Now consider the following force-time graph of the force acting on a 1.5 kg object.
(a) What is the impulsive force applied at 0.2 s? At 25
0.5 s?
20
15
Force (N)
(b) What is the area under the graph?
10
7. In a collision between a car and a wall, use the Impulse-Momentum Theorem to explain why air bags and
crumple zones on a car decrease the chance of injury. Specifically, examine the effect of Δt in the equation on
the size of the impulsive force that acts on the car to change its momentum, and what the effect air bags and
crumple zones on the size of Δt (the duration of the impulsive force on the passenger).