Currie Community

High School

Physics Department

Our Dynamic Universe

Section 3: Collisions and

Explosions
Notes adapted from Prestwick Academy
Success Criteria

Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

I can:

• state that momentum is the product of mass and velocity.

• state that the law of conservation of linear momentum can be applied to the
interaction of two objects moving in one dimension, in the absence of net
external forces.
• state that an elastic collision is one in which both momentum and kinetic energy
are conserved.
• state that an inelastic collision is one in which only momentum is conserved.
• carry out calculations concerned with collisions in which the objects move in only
one dimension.

Explosions

I can:

• carry out calculations concerned with explosions in one dimension.

Impulse

I can:

• apply the law of conservation of momentum to the interaction of two objects

moving in one direction to show that:
a) the changes in momentum of each object are equal in size and opposite in
direction
b) the forces acting on each object are equal in size and opposite in direction.
• state that impulse = force × time.
• state that impulse = change in momentum.
• carry out calculations using the relationship, impulse = change of momentum.
• analyse force-time graphs during contact of colliding objects.
• calculate impulse from the area under a force-time graph.

2
 Introduction

How is it possible for two carts to collide head-on and come to a complete stop?
Why is it that when a heavy vehicle collides with a lightweight vehicle, the two of
them continue in the general direction the heavy vehicle was going before it
collided?

Collisions between objects - whether trains, shopping trolleys, or your foot and
the pavement - can be complicated. Car manufacturers spend significant amounts of
money and time ensuring that in the event of a collision, the occupants of a car
have the best possible chance of survival. Yet even in the most chaotic of collisions,
as long as there are no external forces acting on the colliding objects, one principle
always holds and provides an excellent tool for understanding the dynamics of the
collision. That principle is called the conservation of momentum.

In this unit we will investigate this principle further.

3
 Lesson 1: What is Momentum?
Momentum is a measurement relating to the motion of an object. Momentum is
defined as the product of mass times velocity for an object. Effectively the number
obtained gives us an indication of how difficult it would be to stop the object
moving. The bigger the momentum the more difficult it would be to stop the
object.

Consider the following:

A shopping trolley, mass 5 kg travelling at 0.5 ms-1

An oil tanker, mass 10,000,000 kg travelling at 0.01 ms-1

A bullet mass 0.01 kg travelling at 500 ms-1

The trolley has a greater velocity than the tanker and a greater mass than the
bullet, but what would be the easiest (and safest!!) to stop moving.

The momentum (p) of any object is the product of its mass (m) and its velocity (v):

p = mv

Since mass is measured in kilograms and velocity in metres per second, the units of
momentum are kilogram metres per second, kg m s–1.
Momentum is a vector quantity, and the direction of the momentum is the same
as the direction of the velocity.

Example
A woman of mass 50 kg is running at 6 ms-1 North. What is her momentum?

Solution

m = 50 kg p = mv
v = 6 ms-1 = 50(6)
p=? = 300 kgms-1 North

SAQ 59
Calculate the momentum of each of the following objects:
a) b) c)

4
The Vector Nature of Momentum

Since momentum is a vector quantity the direction in which the objects are
travelling is extremely important. We use the convention that objects travelling
to the right are taken to be travelling in the positive direction, whilst those
travelling to the left are travelling in the negative direction.

In the diagram, Car A, moving to the right, has a

momentum of +10,000 kgms-1. Car B, moving to
the left, has a momentum of -10,000 kgms-1.
Car A: 1000 kg, 10 m/s Car B: 1000 kg, 10 m/s
Example
Calculate the total momentum of the following system.
3 ms-1 2 ms-1

5 kg 4 kg

Momentum of trolley A = m x v
=5x3
= 15 kgms-1

Momentum of trolley B = m x v
= 4 x (-2)
= -8 kgms-1

Total momentum = 15 - 8 = 7 kgms-1

SAQ 60
Calculate the total momentum in each of the following situations.

a) 3 ms-1 2 ms-1

2 kg 4 kg

b) 1 ms-1 1.5 ms-1

5 kg 4 kg

2 ms-1 3 ms-1
c)
6 kg 4 kg

5
Collisions

When two objects collide, the momentum of each changes as a result of the
forces acting between the objects.

Activity 14
Aim: To compare the total momentum before and after a collision when the
objects stick together.

Copy the table:

m1 u1 m2 u2 m1u1 mT v mTv
(kg) (ms-1) (kg) (ms-1) +m2u2 (kg) (ms-1) (kgms-1)
(kgms-1)
0.5 0.5 0 1.0
0.5 1.0 0 1.5
1.0 0.5 0 1.5
1.0 1.5 0 2.5

Apparatus: 1 track, 2 vehicles (1 with card), 2 light gates, 1 QED, additional

masses, scales.
Light gates

Vehicle A Vehicle B Track

Instructions
1. The apparatus above will be set up for you.
2. Note the masses of vehicle A and vehicle B.
3. Set the QED to measure two velocities.
4. Mount the card on vehicle A and, with vehicle B stationary between both
light gates, push A towards B.
Note: a) the velocity of A through light gate 1
b) the velocity of A and B together through light gate 2.
4. Calculate the total momentum before and after the collision.
5. Repeat the experiment for different masses of vehicle A and vehicle B.
6. Use an appropriate format to compare the total momentum before and after
the collision.

6
From this experiment we find that the total momentum before a collision is
equal to the total momentum after the collision, as long as no external forces act
on the system. This is known as the law of conservation of momentum and can
be written in the form

momentum before = momentum after

As the objects join together this can be written mathematically as

m1u1 + m2u2 = mTv

Example
A trolley of mass 2kg travelling at 1.5ms-1 collides, and sticks to, another
stationary trolley also of mass 2kg. Calculate the velocity after the collision.

Solution
Before collision After collision
11 ms-1 v=?

1000 kg 1200 kg 1000 kg 1200 kg

m1u1 + m2u2 = mTv

1000(11) + 0 = 2200v
11000 = 2200v
11000 /2200 = v
v = 5 ms-1 to the right

SAQ 61
A trolley of mass 2kg moving at 4ms-1 collides with, and sticks to, an identical
stationary trolley. What is the velocity of the two trolleys immediately after the
collision?

SAQ 62
A car of mass 700kg collides with and sticks to a stationary van of mass 1400kg
and both move off together at 11ms-1. Was the car driver exceeding the speed
limit of 30ms-1 before the accident?

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Lesson 2: More Momentum
Activity 15
Aim: To compare the total momentum before and after a collision when the
objects do not stick together.

Copy the tables:

m1 u1 m2 u2 m1u1+m2u2
Before Collision (kg) (ms-1) (kg) (ms-1) (kgms-1)
0.5 0.5 0
0.5 1.0 0
1.0 0.5 0
1.0 1.5 0
m1 v1 m2 v2 m1v1+m2v2
After Collision (kg) (ms-1) (kg) (ms-1) (kgms-1)
0.5 0.5
0.5 1.0
1.0 0.5
1.0 1.5
Apparatus: 1 track, 2 vehicles with card, 2 light gates, 1 QED, additional
masses, scales.
Light gates

Vehicle A Repelling Vehicle B Track

magnets
Instructions
1. The apparatus above will be set up for you.
2. Note the masses of vehicle A and vehicle B.
3. Set the QED to measure three velocities.
4. With vehicle B stationary between both light gates, push A towards B.
Note: a) the velocity of A through light gate 1
b) the velocity of B through light gate 2
c) the velocity of A through light gate 1 or 2 (if at all!).
5. Calculate the total momentum before and after the collision.
6. Repeat the experiment for different masses of vehicle A and vehicle B.
7. Use an appropriate format to compare the total momentum before and after
the collision.
8
From this experiment we again find that the total momentum before the
collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision, as long as no
external forces act on the system.

momentum before = momentum after

As the objects do not join together this can be written mathematically as

m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1+ m2v2

Example
One vehicle (vehicle A) approaches another (vehicle B) from behind as shown
below. The vehicles are moving with the speeds shown. After the collision the
front vehicle is travelling at 11 m s–1. Calculate the speed of vehicle B after the
collision.

Solution

Before collision After collision

12 ms-1 9 ms-1 11 ms-1 v=?

1200 kg 800 kg 1200 kg 800 kg

m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2

1200(12) + 800(9) = 1200(11) + 800 v
21600 = 13200 + 800 v
21600 -13200 = 800 v
8400 = 800 v
v = 8400 / 800
v = 10.5 ms-1 to the right

SAQ 63
One vehicle approaches another from behind as shown in the diagram below.
The vehicle at the rear is moving faster than the one in front and they collide
which causes the vehicle in front to be ‘nudged’ forward with an increased
speed. Determine the speed of the rear vehicle after the collision.

9
Example
A 2kg trolley moving to the right at 10 ms-1 collides with a 10 kg trolley which is
also moving to the right at 1 ms-1.

Immediately after the collision, the 2 kg trolley rebounds to the left at 5 ms -1.
Calculate the velocity of the 10 kg trolley immediately after the collision.

Solution
Before collision After collision
10 ms-1 1 ms-1 5 ms-1 v=?

2 kg 10 kg 2 kg 10 kg

m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2

2(10) + 10(1) = 2(-5) + 10 v
30 = -10 + 10 v
30 + 10 = 10 v
40 = 10 v
v = 40 / 10
v = 4 ms-1 to the right

NB: If you are carrying out a momentum calculation and the final answer is
negative it means the object is moving to the left.

SAQ 64
A trolley of mass 0.8 kg, travelling at 1.5 m s-1 collides head on with another
vehicle of mass 1.2 kg, travelling at 2.0 m s-1 in the opposite direction. They lock
together on impact. Determine the speed and direction after the collision.

SAQ 65
Two trolleys of mass 1 kg and 0.8 kg on an air track collide head on. The 1 kg
vehicle is initially travelling at 2 ms-1 towards the 0.8 kg vehicle which is
travelling at 3 ms-1.
If after the collision the 1 kg vehicle returns along its original path at 0.5 ms -1,
what is the velocity of the 0.8 kg vehicle.

10
Types of Collision

When two objects collide the total energy in the system and the momentum are
always conserved.

There are two types of collision:

Elastic Collisions:
In this type of collision both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.
Practical collisions are never 100% elastic, but such a collision can be
approximated when two hard objects such as snooker balls collide.

Inelastic Collisions:
In this type of collision momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not as some
of the kinetic energy is converted into heat during the impact.

NB: All real collisions are inelastic, however it is possible to make up a collision
where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved from the data given, so
you cannot assume that a collision will always be inelastic in a given question.

A special case
If two objects of the same mass collide elastically, they exchange velocities after
the collision. For example, if a cue ball travelling at 2 m s–1 collides with a second
snooker ball of the same mass (a head-on collision, with no spin involved), the
second ball will move off at 2 m s–1 and the cue ball will stop.

Activity 16
Your teacher will demonstrate this effect using ‘Newton’s cradle’.

Example
Show whether the example on page 10 is an elastic or inelastic collision.

Solution

Total kinetic energy before collision Total kinetic energy after collision
= (1/2 x 2 x 102) + (1/2 x 10 x 12) = (1/2 x 2 x 52) + (1/2 x 10 x 42)
= 100 + 5 = 25 + 80
= 105 J = 105 J

As the total kinetic energy before the collision = the total kinetic energy after

So collision is elastic.

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SAQ 66
Two cars are travelling along a racing track. The car in front has a mass of 1400 kg
and is moving at 20 ms-1 while the car behind has a mass of 1000 kg and is
moving at 30 ms-1. They collide and the car in front moves off with a speed of
25 ms-1.

a) Determine the speed of the rear car after the collision.

b) Show clearly whether this collision was elastic or inelastic.

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Lesson 3: Explosions

Explosions

Activity 17
Aim: To compare the total momentum before and after a collision using explosive
trolleys.

Copy the table:

mT u mTu m1 v1 m2 v2 m1u1
(kg) (ms-1) (kgms-1) (kg) (ms-1) (kg) (ms-1) +m2u2
(kgms-1)
1.0 0 0 0.5 0.5
1.5 0 0 0.5 1.0
1.5 0 0 1.0 0.5
2.5 0 0 1.0 1.5

Apparatus: 2 trolleys with cards, 2 light gates, QED, additional masses, scales.

Instructions
1. Note the masses of trolleys A and B .
2. Set the QED to measure two velocities.
3. With both trolleys stationary, strike the plunger.
Note: a) the velocity of A through light gate 1
b) the velocity of B through light gate 2.
4. Compare the total momentum before and after the explosion.
(Remember momentum is a vector quantity).
5. Repeat the experiment for different masses of trolleys.

13
Again we find that momentum is conserved. This time it can be written as

mT u = m1v1 + m2v2

In this case kinetic energy is not conserved.

Think about this. If a bomb explodes, leading to an overall gain in kinetic energy,
what kind of energy does the bomb have before the explosion?

Example
A gun of mass 1 kg fires a bullet of mass 5 g at a speed of 100 m s –1. Calculate
the recoil velocity of the gun.

Solution

Before collision After collision

u = 0 ms-1 v1 = ? v2 = 100 ms-1

0.005 kg
1.005 kg 1 kg

mT u = m1v1 + m2v2
1.005(0) = 1v1 + 0.005(100)
0 = v1 + 0.5
v1 = -0.5 ms-1
So the gun moves at 0.5 ms-1 in the opposite direction to the bullet.

Explosions are treated in the same way as collisions, in that total momentum is
conserved.
For example, in the case of a bullet being fired from a gun, the total momentum
before firing is zero, since nothing is moving.

After firing, the bullet has momentum in the forward direction.

The gun must therefore have the same magnitude of momentum in the opposite
direction so the two momenta cancel each other out, leaving the total
momentum still equal to zero.
For this reason the gun must have a recoil velocity after the explosion (i.e. the
gun jumps backwards).

14
SAQ 67
A firework is launched vertically and when it reaches its maximum height it
explodes into 2 pieces. One piece has a mass of 200 g and moves off with a speed
of 10 ms-1. If the other piece has a mass of 120 g what speed does it have?

SAQ 68
A man of mass 80 kg and woman of mass 50 kg are skating on ice. At one point
they stand next to each other and the woman pushes the man who then moves
away at 0.5 ms-1. With what speed and at what direction does the woman move
off?

SAQ 69 (OEQ)
A student holds a ball at rest then allows it to fall. The ball accelerates freely to
the ground. The student notes that before release the momentum of the ball is
zero but after release it has a momentum. The student concludes that this shows
that the Law of Conservation of Momentum is not always obeyed.

Use your knowledge of physics to show that the student’s statement is untrue.

15
 Lesson 4: Momentum and Newton’s Laws

Far from being some abstract physics law from a text book the law of conservation
of momentum has direct consequences in our lives. If you have ever been in a
plane or on a jet ski then the motion of these vehicles depends on this law.

The propulsion system works by the engine

expelling some form of exhaust at high speed force of water
on jetpack
in one direction. The conservation of momentum
means that something else must move in the
force of jetpack
opposite direction to conserve momentum. on water
In the cases above that thing is the engine,
which is attached to the vehicle causing it to move.

The water jetpack on the right also works in the same way.

This is essentially what is meant by Newton’s third law: every action has an equal
and opposite reaction.

It can be shown that conservation of momentum and Newton’s third law mean the
same thing.

Starting from conservation of momentum:

total momentum before = total momentum after

m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2

Rearrange:
m2u2 – m2v2 = m1v1 – m1u1
m2(u2 – v2) = m1(v1 – u1)
or –m2(v2 – u2) = m1(v1 – u1)

ie -(change in momentum of object 2) = (change in momentum of object 1)

In other words, in any particular example involving two objects colliding, if the
momentum of one object increases by, for example, 6, then the momentum of the
other object must decrease by 6.

We write the change in momentum as

Dp = mv - mu

16
Example
In a cricket match the ball of mass 0.5 kg is bowled
towards a batsman at a speed of 25 ms-1. If the
batsman strikes the ball back along its original
path with a speed of 30 ms-1. Calculate the
Magnitude of the ball’s change in momentum.

Solution

Dp = mv – mu
= 0.5(-30-25)
= 0.5(-55)
= -27.5 kgms-1
Since the question asks for magnitude we can ignore the negative sign so
Dp = 27.5 kgms-1

SAQ 70
A ball of mass 0.8 kg is travelling at 6 ms-1 when it strikes a 6 ms-1
wall and rebounds at 4 ms-1 back the way it came. Calculate
the change in momentum of the ball.
4 ms-1

Momentum and Newton’s second law

Newton’s second law: F = ma

v -u
but a=
t

æ v - u ö mv - mu
so F = mç ÷=
è t ø t
which is the rate of change of momentum. This is how Newton himself defined
his second law.

The law can be rearranged: Ft = mv - mu

Impulse = Change in momentum

The product Ft is called the impulse. Impulse is a vector quantity.

The units of impulse are Ns but they could also be kgms–1 since these are the
units of momentum.

17
Example
Calculate the impulse a force of 5 N exerts on an object which it pushes for 3
seconds.

Solution

Impulse = Ft
=5x3
= 15 Ns

Activity 18
Aim: To calculate average force exerted by a “putter” on a golf ball.

Apparatus: 1 “putter” and mountings, 1 metal covered golf ball with metal
“tee”, 1 light gate, 2 millisecond timers, scales.

Instructions
1. Measure the mass of the golf ball, m, and the diameter of the golf ball.
2. Reset both millisecond timers to zero.
3. Place the light gate in front of the ball so that it will pass through the centre
Of the beam after having been struck by the “putter” head.
4. Pull the “putter” head back and allow it to strike the ball..
5. Note the time of contact on timer 1.
6. Using the time recorded on millisecond timer 2, calculate the velocity, v, of
The golf ball after being struck by the “putter” head..
7. Use the equation Ft = mv - mu to calculate the force acting on the ball.

SAQ 71
A girl kicks a football of mass 500 g which was originally stationary. Her foot is in
contact with the ball for a time of 50 ms and the ball moves off with a speed of
10 ms-1. Calculate the average force exerted on the ball by her foot.

18
SAQ 72
A stationary golf ball is struck by a club. The ball which has a mass of 100 g
moves off with a speed of 30 ms-1. If the average force of contact is 100 N
calculate the time of contact.

SAQ 73
Water is ejected from a fire hose at a rate of 25 kgs-1 and a speed of 50 ms-1. If
the water hits a wall calculate the average force exerted on the wall. Assume
that the water does not rebound from the wall.

SAQ 74
A rubber ball of mass 40 g is dropped from a height of 0.8 m onto the pavement.
It rebounds to a maximum height of 0.45 m. The average force of contact
between the pavement and the ball is 2.8 N.
Calculate:
a) the velocity of the ball just before it hits the ground and the velocity just
after hitting the ground.
b) the time of contact between the ball and pavement.

19
 Lesson 5: Force-time Graphs

The analysis of the force acting on an object causing it to change speed can be
complex. Often we will examine the force over time in graphical form. The area
under a force-time graph is the impulse.

Consider what happens when a ball is kicked.

Consider what happens when a ball is kicked.

Once the foot makes contact with the ball a force is applied, the ball will compress
as the force increases. When the ball leaves the foot it will retain its original shape
and the force applied will decrease.

This is shown in the graph below.

If a ball of the same mass that is softer is kicked and moves of with the same speed
as that above, then a graph such as the one below will be produced.

Contact
Contact
ends
begins

Duration Dt
20
The maximum force applied is smaller but the time it is applied has increased.
Since the ball has the same mass and moves off with the same speed its impulse
will be the same as the original. This would result in a graph of the same area
but different configuration.

Activity 19
Aim: To compare different times of contact for different balls bouncing on a hard
surface.

Apparatus: 3 balls of different types covered in metal foil, 1 retort stand,

a millisecond timer and top-pan balance.

Instructions
1. Reset the millisecond timer to zero.
2. Raise the first ball to a set height h, e.g. 50 cm, and allow it to bounce once
only onto the retort stand base.
3. Note down the time, t, recorded on the millisecond timer. This is the time of
contact between the ball and the retort stand base during the bounce.
4. Repeat 3 or 4 times from the same height and obtain an average value for
the time.
5. Repeat the experiment for the other two balls, dropping them from the
same height.
6. Find the mass of each ball using the balance and calculate the average force
acting on each ball.
7. From the results of your experiment, match the ball used to the graph that
could show the variation of force with time during the bounce.

21
Example
A tennis ball of mass 100 g, initially at rest, is hit by a racquet. The racquet is in
contact with the ball for 20 ms and the force of contact varies over this period,
as shown in the graph. Determine the speed of the ball as it leaves the racquet.

Solution

Impulse = area under graph

= ½ × 20 × 10–3 × 400 = 4 N s

u=0
m = 100 g = 0.1 kg
v=?
Ft = mv - mu
4 = 0.1v – (0.1 × 0)
4 = 0.1v
v = 40 m s–1

SAQ 75
The graph shows how the force exerted on a hockey ball by a hockey stick varies
with time. If the mass of the ball is 150 g determine the speed of the ball as it
leaves the stick (assume that it was stationary to begin with).

SAQ 76
A ball of mass 400 g travels horizontally along the ground and collides with a
wall. The velocity / time graph below represents the motion of the ball for the
first 1.2 seconds. This is useful in the design of safety features in cars.

22
(a) Describe the motion of the ball during sections AB, BC, CD and DE.
(b) What is the time of contact with the wall?
(c) Calculate the average force between the ball and the wall.
(d) How much energy is lost due to contact with the wall?

Practical Applications

Essentially the greater the time you can take to decelerate an object, the smaller
the force you need to apply. If your face is slowed by the dashboard the time to
stop after you make contact with the dashboard will be small, resulting in a large
force and a big OWWWWWW!!

Airbags

The concept of the airbag - a soft pillow to land against in a crash - has been
around for many years. The first patent on an inflatable crash-landing device for
airplanes was filed during World War II. In the 1980s, the first commercial
airbags appeared in cars.

Stopping an object's momentum requires a force acting over a period of time.

When a car crashes, the force required to stop an object is very large because
the car's momentum has changed instantly while the passengers' has not, there
is not much time to work with. The goal of any restraint system is to help stop
the passenger while doing as little damage to him or her as possible.

What an airbag wants to do is to slow the passenger's speed to zero with little or
no damage. To do this it needs to increase the time over which the change in
speed happens.

23
Crumple Zones

Placed at the front and the rear of the car, they absorb the crash energy developed
during an impact. This is achieved by deformation. While certain parts of the car
are designed to allow deformations, the passenger cabin is strengthened by using
high-strength steel and more beams.

Crumple zones delay the collision. Instead of having two rigid bodies
instantaneously colliding, crumple zones increase the time before the vehicle
comes to a halt. This reduces the force experienced by the driver and occupants
on impact.

SAQ 77
A car is designed with a crumple zone so that the front of the car collapses during
impact.

What is the purpose of the crumple zone?

SAQ 78
Modern cars have an air bag built into the steering wheel as a safety mechanism.
The impact inflates upon impact so that;

A. the momentum change in the collision is reduced.

B. The driver’s head is brought to rest more quickly.
C. the kinetic energy is lost more quickly.
D. The deceleration of the driver’s head is reduced.
E. the momentum before the impact is less.

SAQ 79 (OEQ)
“They don't make them like they used to," said old Uncle Willie as a breakdown
truck towing a crashed car drove past. "In my day, cars were built like tanks. They
didn't crumple up in crashes like that one has," he continued.

Use your knowledge of physics to explain why certain parts of cars are designed to
crumple in collisions.

Complete Homework 8.

24