Physics 211: Lecture 14

acceleration of
the center of mass
Today’s Agenda sum of all the
external forces
 Motion of the center of mass, momentum conservation, F=ma

 Collisions: you gotta conserve momentum!

 elastic or inelastic (energy conserving or not)

 Inelastic collisions in one dimension and in two dimensions

 Explosions

 Comment on energy conservation

 Ballistic pendulum

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 1

 Center of Mass Motion: Review

 We have the following law for CM motion:

dP
FEXT   MACM
dt
 This has several interesting implications:

 It tells us that the CM of an extended object behaves like a

simple point mass under the influence of external forces:
 We can use it to relate F and A like we are used to doing.
 It tells us that if FEXT = 0, the total momentum of the system
does not change.
 The total momentum of a system is conserved if there are
no external forces acting.

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 2

 Lecture 14, Act 1
Center of Mass Motion Pucks

 Two pucks of equal mass are being pulled at different

points with equal forces. Which experiences the bigger
acceleration? (Puck 2 has many meters of rope wrapped around it.)

(a) A1  A2 (b) A1  A2 (c) A1 = A2

A1

(1)
M T
F
A2

(2)
M
T

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 3

 Linear Momentum:

 Only the total external force matters!

dP
  Fi ,EXT  FNET ,EXT
dt i
m3

Which is the same as:

dP m1
FNET ,EXT   MACM m2
dt
F1,EXT
Newton’s 2nd law applied to systems!

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 4

 Lecture 14, Act 1
Solution
 We have just shown that MA = FEXT

 Linear Acceleration depends only on external force, not on where

it is applied!

 Expect that A1 and A2 will be the same

since F1 = F2 = T = F / 2

 The answer is (c) A1 = A2.

 So the final CM velocities should be the same!

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 5

 Lecture 14, Act 1
Solution
 The final velocity of the CM of each puck is the same!
 Notice, however, that the motion of the particles in each of the pucks is different (one is
spinning).


V
This one has more
kinetic energy
(rotation)

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 6

 Momentum Conservation

dP dP FEXT  0
FEXT  0
dt dt

 The concept of momentum conservation is one of the most

fundamental principles in physics.
 This is a component (vector) equation.
 We can apply it to any direction in which there is no external
force applied.
 You will see that we often have momentum conservation (FEXT=0)
even when mechanical energy is not conserved.
 Elastic collisions don’t lose mechanical energy
 In inelastic collisions mechanical energy is reduced
 We will show that linear momentum must still be conserved, F=ma

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 7

 Elastic vs. Inelastic Collisions
 A collision is said to be elastic when kinetic energy as well as
momentum is conserved before and after the collision.
Kbefore = Kafter
 Carts colliding with a spring in between, billiard balls, etc.

vi

 A collision is said to be inelastic when kinetic energy is not

conserved before and after the collision, but momentum is
conserved. Kbefore  Kafter
 Car crashes, collisions where objects stick together, etc.

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 8

 Inelastic collision in 1-D: Example 1

 A block of mass M is initially at rest on a frictionless horizontal

surface. A bullet of mass m is fired at the block with a muzzle velocity
(speed) v. The bullet lodges in the block, and the block ends up with
a speed V. In terms of m, M, and V :
 What is the initial speed of the bullet v?
 What is the initial energy of the system?
 What is the final energy of the system?
 Is kinetic energy conserved?

x
v
V

before after

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 9

 Example 1...

 Consider the bullet & block as a system. After the bullet is shot,
there are no external forces acting on the system in the x-direction.
Momentum is conserved in the x direction!

 Px, i = Px, f
 mv = (M+m)V M  m
v   V
 m 

x
v
V

initial final

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 10

 M  m
v   V
 m  Example 1...

 Now consider the kinetic energy of the system before and after:

 Before:
1 1 M  m 2 2 1 M  m
EB 2
 mv  m   V     M  m V 2
2 2  m  2 m 
 After:
1
EA   M  m V 2
2
 So
 m 
EA   E
M  m B

Kinetic energy is NOT conserved! (friction stopped the bullet)

However, momentum was conserved, and this was useful.

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 11

Inelastic Collision in 1-D: Example 2
M

ice
V v=0 (no friction)

M+m

v=?

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 12

 Example 2... Air track

Use conservation of momentum to find v after the collision.

Before the collision: After the collision:

Pi  MV  m( 0 ) Pf  ( M  m )v

Pi  Pf
Conservation of momentum:
MV  ( M  m )v

M
v V vector equation
(M  m)

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 13

 M
v V
(M  m) Example 2...
 Now consider the K.E. of the system before and after:

 Before:

 After:

1 1 M  m 2 2 1 M  m
 So
E BUS 2
 MV  M   v     M  mv 2
2 2  M  2 M 

1
EA   M  mv 2
2
M 
E A   E
M  m B

Kinetic energy is NOT conserved

in an inelastic collision!

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 14

 Lecture 14, Act 2
Momentum Conservation
 Two balls of equal mass are thrown horizontally with the same initial velocity. They hit identical stationary boxes resting on a frictionless horizontal
surface.
 The ball hitting box 1 bounces back, while the ball hitting box 2 gets stuck.
 Which box ends up moving faster?

(a) Box 1 (b) Box 2 (c) same

1 2

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 15

 Lecture 14, Act 2
Momentum Conservation
 Since the total external force in the x-direction is zero, momentum is conserved along the x-axis.
 In both cases the initial momentum is the same (mv of ball).
 In case 1 the ball has negative momentum after the collision, hence the box must have more positive momentum if the total is to be conserved.
 The speed of the box in case 1 is biggest!

x
V1 V2
1 2

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 16

 Lecture 14, Act 2
Momentum Conservation

mvinit = MV1 - mvfin mvinit = (M+m)V2

V1 = (mvinit + mvfin) / M V2 = mvinit / (M+m)

V1 numerator is bigger and its denominator is smaller

than that of V2.
V1 > V2
x
V1 V2
1 2

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 17

 Inelastic collision in 2-D

 Consider a collision in 2-D (cars crashing at a slippery

intersection...no friction).
v1 V

m 1 + m2
m1

m2 v2

before after

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 18

 Inelastic collision in 2-D...
 There are no net external forces acting.
 Use momentum conservation for both components.

m1
X: Px ,i  Px ,f m1v1   m1  m 2 V x Vx  v1
 m1  m 2 

m2
y: Py ,i  Py ,f m 2 v 2   m1  m 2 V y Vy  v2
 1
m  m 2

v1 V = (Vx,Vy)

m1 m1 + m2

m2 v2
Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 19
 Inelastic collision in 2-D...

 So we know all about the motion after the collision!

m1
Vx  v1
V = (Vx,Vy)  m1  m 2 
Vy
 m2
Vy  v2
Vx  1
m  m 2

Vy m2v 2 p2
tan    
Vx m1v1 p1

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 20

 Inelastic collision in 2-D...

 We can see the same thing using momentum vectors:

P
P
 p2
p1
p2 p1

p2
tan  
p1

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 21

 Explosion (inelastic un-collision)

Before the explosion:

M

After the explosion:

v1 v2

m1 m2

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 22

 Explosion... Rocket
Bottle
 No external forces, so P is conserved.

 Initially: P = 0

 Finally: P = m1v1 + m2v2 = 0

m1v1 = - m2v2
M

v1 v2
m1 m2

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 23

 Lecture 14, Act 3
Center of Mass
 A bomb explodes into 3 identical pieces. Which of the following
configurations of velocities is possible?
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) both

v v

m m

v V v v
m m m m

(1) (2)
Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 24
 Lecture 14, Act 3
Center of Mass
 No external forces, so P must be conserved.
 Initially: P = 0
 In explosion (1) there is nothing to balance the upward momentum
of the top piece so Pfinal  0.

v
mv
mv
m
mv
v v
m m

(1)
Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 25
 Lecture 14, Act 3
Center of Mass
 No external forces, so P must be conserved.
 All the momenta cancel out.
 Pfinal = 0.

mv
v
mv
m mv

v v
m m

(2)
Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 26
 Comment on Energy Conservation

 We have seen that the total kinetic energy of a system

undergoing an inelastic collision is not conserved.
 Mechanical Energy is lost: Where does it go??

» Heat (bomb)
» Bending of metal (crashing cars)

 Kinetic energy is not conserved since work is done during

the collision!

 Momentum along a certain direction is conserved when

there are no external forces acting in this direction.
 In general, momentum conservation is easier to satisfy
than energy conservation.

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 27

 Ballistic Pendulum

L L
V=0
L L

m v H
M+m
V
M

 A projectile of mass m moving horizontally with speed v

strikes a stationary mass M suspended by strings of length
L. Subsequently, m + M rise to a height of H.
Given H, what is the initial speed v of the projectile?

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 28

 Ballistic Pendulum...

 Two stage process:

1. m collides with M, inelastically. Both M and

m then move together with a velocity V
(before having risen significantly).

2. M and m rise a height H, conserving K+U energy E.

(no non-conservative forces acting after collision)

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 29

 Ballistic Pendulum...
 Stage 1: Momentum is conserved

m 
in x-direction: mv  ( m  M )V V   v
m  M 

 Stage 2: K+U Energy is conserved

( EI  EF )
1 (m
2  M )V 2  ( m  M ) gH V 2  2 gH

 M
Eliminating V gives: v  1   2 gH
 m

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 30

 Ballistic Pendulum Demo

L L
L L

m v H
M+m

M
d
 In the demo we measure forward displacement d, not H:

L L2  d 2   L  H  2
L-H
H  L  L2  d 2
H d

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 31

 Ballistic Pendulum Demo...
L Ballistic
L-H
pendulum
H d
H  L L d
2 2

d2  d2  d2 d
 L  L 1  2  L  L1  2   for  1
L  2L  2L L

 M  M g
v  1   2 gH v  1  d
 m  m L

for d << L
Let’s see who can throw fast...

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 32

 Recap of today’s lecture

 Inelastic collisions in one dimension (Text: 8-6)

 Inelastic collisions in two dimensions (Text: 8-6)

 Explosions

 Comment on energy conservation

 Ballistic pendulum (Ex. 8-14)

 Look at textbook problems Chapter 8: # 21, 50, 69, 81, 87

Physics 211: Lecture 14, Pg 33