Phys Sci 5-6 Momentum

Describe Momentum

Calculate Momentum during an interaction

Describe how momentum is conserved in a collision

Momentum: a quantity defined as the product of the mass and velocity of an object

• Momentum can be described as inertia in motion

Momentum can be used to help determine how likely an object is to change its motion

• A large truck is harder to stop than a smaller car

You can calculate the momentum of an object using the mass and velocity

• The Unit of momentum is kg*m/s

  • m= mass in kilograms

  • v = velocity in m/s

In momentum equations, we use the letter p to represent momentum, so we can distinguish it from mass

A 120 kg ostrich is running with a velocity of 16 m/s north. What is the momentum of the ostrich?

• Step 1: Identify the equation that you need

  • p = m ×v

• Step 2: Identify the variables that you know

  • p =?

  • m=120

  • v = 16

• Step 3: Plug in the variables and solve

A 6 kg bowling ball is moving at 10 m/s down the alley toward the pins. What is the momentum of the bowling ball?

• Step 1: Identify the equation that you need

  • p = m ×v

• Step 2: Identify the variables that you know

  • p =

  • m=

  • v =

A 6 kg bowling ball is moving at 10 m/s down the alley toward the pins. What is the momentum of the bowling ball?

• Step 1: Identify the equation that you need

  • p = m ×v

• Step 2: Identify the variables that you know

  • p =?

  • m=6

  • v = 10

• Step 3: Plug in the variables and solve

A 2.5 kg puppy is running with a velocity of 4.8 m/s south. What is the

momentum of the puppy?

• Step 1: Identify the equation that you need

  • p = m ×v

• Step 2: Identify the variables that you know

  • p =

  • m=

  • v =

A 2.5 kg puppy is running with a velocity of 4.8 m/s south. What is the

momentum of the puppy?

• Step 1: Identify the equation that you need

  • p = m ×v

• Step 2: Identify the variables that you know

  • p = ?

  • m= 2.5

  • v = 4.8

When a moving object hits an object at rest, momentum is transferred from the moving object to the stationary object.

• The amount that is transferred depends on the types of objects

While an object's individual momentum may change, the total momentum between the two objects will not change

The Law of Conservation of Momentum: The momentum of any closed, isolated system does not change

• It is true regardless of what happens in the collision