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Cambridge (CIE) AS Physics Your notes

Linear Momentum & its Conservation

Contents
Conservation of Momentum
Elastic & Inelastic Collisions

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Conservation of Momentum
Your notes
The principle of conservation of momentum
The principle of conservation of linear momentum states that:
The total linear momentum before a collision is equal to the total linear momentum after a collision
unless the system is acted on by a resultant external force
Therefore:
momentum before = momentum after
Momentum is a vector quantity, therefore:
opposing vectors can cancel each other out, resulting in a net momentum of zero
an object that collides with another object and rebounds, has a positive velocity before the
collision and a negative velocity after
Momentum is always conserved
For example:

Ball A moves with an initial velocity of u

A

Ball A collides with Ball B which is stationary

After the collision, both balls travel in opposite directions
Taking the direction of the initial motion of Ball A as the positive direction (to the right)
The momentum before the collision is

p before = mA u A + 0
The momentum after the collision is

p after = − mA v A + m B v B
The minus sign shows that Ball A travels in the opposite direction to the initial travel
If an object is stationary, like Ball B before the collision, then it has a momentum of zero

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Your notes

The conservation of momentum for two objects A and B colliding then moving apart

External and internal forces

External forces are forces that act on a structure from outside e.g. friction and weight
Internal forces are forces exchanged by the particles in the system e.g. tension in a string
Which forces are internal or external will depend on the system itself
A system with no external forces acting can be described as a closed or isolated system

Internal and external forces for a mass on a spring

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Your notes

The spring force is internal to the system because the spring is part of the system, whereas weight (the
gravitational pull of the Earth on the mass) is external to the system

Collisions in one & two dimensions

One-dimensional momentum problems
Recall that linear momentum is p = mv
Using the conversation of linear momentum, it is possible to calculate missing velocities and masses
of components in a system
Elastic collisions are commonly those where objects colliding do not stick together and then move in
opposite directions
Inelastic collisions are where objects collide and stick together after the collision
To find out whether a collision is elastic or inelastic, compare the amount of kinetic energy in the
system before and after the collision
If the kinetic energy is conserved, it is an elastic collision
If the kinetic energy is not conserved, it is an inelastic collision

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Worked Example Your notes

Trolley A, of mass 0.80 kg.
Trolley A collides head-on with stationary Trolley B at a velocity of 3.0 m s-1.
Trolley B has twice the mass of Trolley A. The trolleys stick together.
(a) Using the conservation of momentum, calculate the common velocity of both trolleys after the
collision.
(b) Prove that the collision is inelastic.
Answer:
(a)
Step 1: List the known quantities
Mass of Trolley A, mA = 0.80 kg
Velocity of Trolley A, vA = 3.0 m s-1
Mass of Trolley B, mB = 2mA = 1.60 kg
Step 2: Determine the momentum before the collision

p before = mA v A + m B v B

p before = (0 . 80 × 3 . 0) + 0

p before = 2 . 4 kg m s−1
Since Trolly B was stationary before the collision, its momentum is zero
Step 3: Determine the momentum after the collision

p after = (mA + m B ) × v A + B

p after = (0 . 80 + 1 . 60) × v A + B

p after = 2 . 4 × v A + B
Step 4: Equate the momentum before and after the collision using the principle of conservation
of momentum
momentum before collision = momentum after collision

p before = p after

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2 . 4 = 2 . 4 × vA +B

Step 5: Calculate the common velocity of both trolleys after the collision Your notes

2.4
vA +B =
2.4
v A + B = 1 . 0 m s−1
(b)
Step 1: Calculate the kinetic energy of the system before the collision

1 1
E k before = mA (v A ) 2 + m B (v B ) 2
2 2
E k before = 0 . 5 × 0 . 80 × (3 . 0) 2 + 0

E k before = 3 . 6 J
Since trolly B was stationary before the collision, its kinetic energy is zero
Step 2: Calculate the kinetic energy of the system after the collision

1
E k after = m v 2
2 A +B ( A +B )
E k after = 0 . 5 × (0 . 8 + 1 . 6) × (1 . 0) 2

E k after = 1 . 2 J
Step 3: State whether the collision was inelastic
The kinetic energy before the collision, 3.6 J, was greater than the kinetic energy after the
collision, 1.2 J
Therefore, the kinetic energy of the system is not conserved, and the collision is inelastic

Examiner Tips and Tricks

If an object is stationary or at rest, its velocity equals 0, therefore, the momentum and kinetic
energy are also equal to 0.

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When an inelastic collision occurs in which two objects are stuck together, treat the final object as a
single object with a mass equal to the sum of the two individual objects.
Your notes
Two-dimensional momentum problems
Since momentum is a vector, in two dimensions it can be split up into its x and y components
See Scalars & Vectors for a reminder on resolving vectors

Worked Example
A ball is thrown at a vertical wall.
The ball is thrown from position S with an initial velocity of 15.0 m s-1 at 60.0° to the horizontal.
The ball hits the wall at position P and rebounds at a velocity of 4.6 m s-1
The mass of the ball is 60 × 10-3 kg.
Calculate the change in momentum of the ball as it bounces off the wall.

Answer:
Step 1: List the known quantities and assign direction
Initial horizontal velocity, vi = 15.0 m s-1 at 60.0° to the horizontal
Final horizontal velocity, vf = −4.6 m s-1
Mass of ball, m = 60 × 10-3 kg
Step 2: State the change in momentum equation

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∆ p = m (v f − v i )

Step 3: Calculate the initial velocity Your notes

A change in momentum is only due to the horizontal velocity component for projectile motion
v = 15. 0 × cos( 60)
i

v i = 7 . 5 m s−1
Step 4: Calculate the change in momentum

∆ p = m (v f − v i )

∆ p = ( 60 × 10−3) × (−4 . 6 − 7 . 5)

∆ p = − 0 . 73 N s
The answer should be negative because the ball is traveling in the opposite direction after it
rebounds

Examiner Tips and Tricks

For problems in two dimensions, make sure you’re confident resolving vectors.
Here is a little trick to help you remember which component is cosine or sine of the angle for a vector
R:

Resolving vectors with sine and cosine

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Elastic & Inelastic Collisions

Your notes
Elastic collisions
When two objects collide, they may spring apart retaining all of the kinetic energy of the system
This would be a perfect elastic collision
In an elastic collision, all of the kinetic energy is conserved
Recall the kinetic energy equation:

1
Ek = mv 2
2
Where:
Ek = kinetic energy in joules (J)
m = mass in kilograms (kg)
v = velocity in metres per second (m s-1)
Kinetic energy depends on the speed of an object
In a perfectly elastic collision (such as a head-on collision):
the relative speed of approach = the relative speed of separation

Worked Example
Two similar spheres, each of mass m and velocity v are travelling towards each other.
The spheres have a head-on collision. What is the total kinetic energy after the impact?

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Answer:
Step 1: Equate the kinetic energy before and after the collision Your notes
In an elastic collision, the kinetic energy of the system is conserved
E
k before
=E k after

Step 2: Write an expression for the kinetic energy before the collision

1 1
E k before = mv 2 + mv 2
2 2
E k before = mv 2 = E k after
Therefore, the correct answer is C

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Despite velocity being a vector, kinetic energy is a scalar quantity and therefore will never include a
minus sign.
This is because in the kinetic energy formula, mass is scalar and the v2 will always give a positive value
whether its a negative or positive velocity.

Inelastic collisions
Whilst the momentum of a system is always conserved in interactions between objects, kinetic energy
is not always conserved
An inelastic collision is one where kinetic energy is not conserved
The kinetic energy is transferred to other energy stores
Inelastic collisions occur when two objects collide and they crumple and deform
All of the kinetic energy of the system may be transferred away from the system and the objects will
come to a halt
Or some of the kinetic energy of the system may be transferred away and the objects will move as one
body at a slower speed than the original objects
A perfectly inelastic collision is when two objects stick together after collision

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Worked Example Your notes

Two trolleys X and Y are of equal mass. Trolley X moves towards trolley Y which is initially stationary.
After the collision, the trolleys join and move together.
Prove that this collision is inelastic.

Answer:
Step 1: Write an expression for the kinetic energy of the system before the collision

1
E k before = m v 2+0
2 x x
Object Y is stationary before the collision, so its kinetic energy is zero
Step 2: Write an expression for the kinetic energy of the system after the collision

1
E k after = m + my )v x +y 2
2( x
Both trolleys are of equal mass, therefore mx + my = 2m
1
E k after = (2 m ) v x + y 2
2
Step 3: Compare the expressions and determine if they are equal

1 1
m x v x 2 ≠ (2 m ) v x + y 2
2 2
E k before ≠ E k after

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The kinetic energy before the collision is not equal to the kinetic energy after the collision
Therefore, the collision is inelastic
Your notes

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Although kinetic energy may not always being conserved, remember momentum will always be
conserved.

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