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Momentum and Impulse

Momentum and Impulse

Momentum is an objects moving inertia when a mass is in motion. Learn more about momentum and impulse see examples and take a practice quiz.

Find the handout for this lesson at teachers pay teachers here

Learning Targets

  • I understand momentum and can use the momentum equation so solve for variables
  • I understand impulse and can use the impulse equation to solve for variables
  • I understand how increasing time decreases the force of impulse
  • I understand how an impulse changes momentum
  • I can solve for variables using the impulse equals change of momentum equation

Momentum (p) is an objects moving inertia

  • To have momentum you must have a mass and be moving

Momentum equation:

p = mv

Momentum unit:

kg∙m/s

Momentum and Impulse Variables

Name Variable MKS Unit Unit Abbreviation
Momentum p kilograms times meters per second kg∙m/s
Mass m kilogram kg
Velocity v meters per second m/s
Impulse J Newtons times seconds N∙s
Time t seconds s

Momentum is Directly Related to Mass

The larger the mass moving the same speed the larger the momentum.

The 5 kg car going 10 m/s:

  • p=mv
  • p=(5)(10) = 50 kg∙m/s of momentum

The 35 kg car going 10 m/s:

  • p=mv
  • p=(35)(10) = 350 kg∙m/s of momentum
mass effects momentum

Q1: What happens to momentum if the mass of a moving object is increased?

It Increases

Q2: How much more momentum does a 35 kg object have than a 5 kg object?

Review this page if you don't remember how to do these ratio like problems

Q2

Momentum is Directly Related to Velocity

  • You have more momentum when the same mass has a higher velocity
  • If you have no velocity you have no momentum

The 15 kg car going 0 m/s:

  • p=mv
  • p=(15)(0) = 0 kg∙m/s of momentum

The 15 kg car going 10 m/s:

  • p=mv
  • p=(15)(10) = 150 kg∙m/s of momentum

The 15 kg car going 20 m/s:

  • p=mv
  • p=(15)(20) = 300 kg∙m/s of momentum

The same car going double the speed has double the momentum.

velocity and momentum

Q3: How much momentum does a 1575 kg Lamborghini Aventador at its top speed of 97 m/s?

Q3

Q4: How much more momentum does an object have when its velocity is tripled?

Q4

Change in Momentum and Impulse

  • An object changes its momentum when its velocity changes.

Change in Momentum Equations:

Δp = mΔv

Δp = m(vf – vi)

Note: You must account for direction when a problem has a changing direction.  If backwards, you will make velocity negative.

bat ball impulse

Q5: What is the change in momentum of a 0.145 kg baseball traveling 44 m/s forward when hit back at 60 m/s?

Q5

Impulse (J)

An impulse (J) is a force applied for a time, which results in a change of momentum.

Impulse Equation:  J = Ft

Impulse unit:   N∙s

A bat creates an impulse when force is applied for a time period changing a baseballs momentum.

Q6: How much force is applied during a 0.30 second 210 N∙s impulse?

Q6

Q7: How much different is the impulse when padding increases the time of impulse by three times?

Q7

Impulse (J) is equal to an objects change in momentum (Δp)

Impulse: J = Ft

Change of Momentum: Δp = mΔv            

Impulse Equals Change of Momentum: J = Δp

Other Versions of the Equation:

J = mΔv

Ft = mΔv

Ft=m(vf-vi)

The unit for impulse equals change in momentum

  • A (N∙s) is the same as a (kg∙m/s)

Q8: How much force is required to stop a 0.145 kg baseball traveling at 44 m/s in 0.020 seconds?

Q8

Cushioning Increases Time Decreasing Force

A car designed to crush safely on impact keeps passengers safe.  Therefore, you need to replace the car but the passengers stay safe.  Both cars in this animation start at 15 m/s and end at zero.  Both cars with the same mass and same change of velocity have the same change in momentum.

Since impulse equals the change in momentum both cars also have the same impulse.

More Time Less Force

Q9: How can padding or the crushing of a car on impact keep a person safe?

Padding or crushing increases the time of impulse which decreases the force

Crushing Acts Like A Pillow

Impulse is composed of force and time.  A car can't change the impulse or change in momentum but crushing is like padding.  Padding increases the time a force is applied and therefore decreases the amount of force.  This decrease of force can lessens the impact on passengers.

Impulse: More Time Means Less Force

Momentum and Impulse Problem Set

Click check answer to see a quick answer.  At the end of the video at the beginning of this page I go through the solutions.

1. How many times different is the momentum of a truck that has double the mass and double the velocity of a car?

4 times

 2. How much momentum does a 2.0 kg toy car going 3.25 m/s have? 

p=6.5 kg∙m/s

 3. What is the mass of a bicycle that has 108 kg∙m/s of momentum at a speed of 12 m/s?

m=9 kg

 4. How much force is applied in 0.5 s if the impulse is 18.2 N∙s?

F= 36.4 N

 5. How much force is required to stop a 1200 kg car traveling at 8.5 m/s in 3.0 seconds?

F=3400 N backward

 6. How many times different force if the time of the impulse decreases to half the original?

2 Times

 7. What is the final velocity of a 0.152 kg t-ball that has a force of 10 N applied for 0.18 seconds starting from rest?

vf = 11.84 m/s

 8. What is the final velocity of a 0.145 kg baseball that has a force of 25 N applied backwards for 0.15 seconds starting from 10 m/s?

vf = 15.86 m/s backwards

Impulse and Momentum Quiz

Do you know the difference between impulse and momentum and solve related equations?

Impulse: More Time Means Less Force

Find out by taking our quiz

1 / 9

What is the unit for momentum?

2 / 9

Which would change the momentum of an object the most.

Impulse changes the momentum and the equation is J = Ft

Both force and time applied are directly related to impulse.  Doubling both would create four times the impulse and would be the greatest of the choices.

3 / 9

Impulse is equal to

  • The main impulse equation if J=Ft
  • Impulse is also equal to change in momentum
  • Change in momentum is equal to mass times change in velocity

4 / 9

How much momentum does the 7.34767309 × 1022 kilogram moon have at its mean orbital velocity of 1022 m/s?

Question 1 Momentum and Impulse

5 / 9

How much more momentum would a moving object have with twice the mass?

Question 2 Momentum and Impulse

6 / 9

What is the change in momentum of an 85 kg person running at 8 m/s forward when hitting a wall and bouncing back at 3 m/s?

Question 3 Momentum and Impulse

7 / 9

How many times does impulse change when you double the force applied?

Question 4 Momentum and Impulse

8 / 9

How much force is required to stop Big Mac a 135 kg football player running at 6.0 m/s in 0.050 seconds?

Question 5 Momentum and Impulse

9 / 9

How does padding make it safer for athletes on impact?

It does not decrease the momentum since it does not decrease the mass, staring, or ending velocity.  This is equal to impulse and therefore does not decrease that.  It increases the time the force is applied for and thus decreases the force.

Your score is

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  • On to Collisions and Conservation of Momentum
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Unit 1: One Dimensional Motion
Unit 2: 2D Motion
Unit 3: Newton’s Laws and Force
Unit 4: Universal Gravitation and Circular Motion
Unit 5: Work, Power, Mechanical Advantage, and Simple Machines
Unit 6: Momentum, Impulse, and Conservation of Momentum
Unit 7: Electrostatics
Unit 8: Current and Circuits
Unit 9: Magnetism and Electromagnetism
Unit 10: Intro to Waves
Unit 11: Electromagnetic Waves
Unit 12: Nuclear Physics

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