Momentum and Impulse

• Momentum (p)


  The product of the mass of the object and its velocity. Hence, an object's momentum is proportional to the object's mass and velocity. In other words, an increase in either mass or volume will also result to an increase in momentum.

  Equation: p = mv
• Impulse (Ft)


  The change in momentum or the product of mass and change in velocity. This definition dictates proportional relationships between all the variables involved which means that the greater the impulse is, the greater the change in momentum will be.

  Equation: Ft = m∆v
• Law of Conservation of Momentum

  A law that states that in the absence of external force, the momentum of a system remains unchanged. In the case of a system where all forces are internal, the net momentum of the system before and after the event is equal.
• Collisions


  A process that occurs when an object comes in contact with another object. In any collision, conservation of momentum must be observed, thus the net momentum of a system of colliding objects remains the same before and after collisions.
• Elastic Collisions


  A type of collision where objects remained separated after the collision without deformation or heat generation. In this type of collisions, the total kinetic energy, as well as the total mentum, will be conserved, resulting in the bouncing of the objects. In cases where some heat and sound are generated after a collision but the objects still remain separated, the collisions is them referred to as perfectly elastic collision.
• Inelastic Collisions


  Collisions where the colliding objects deform or generate heat. If the two objects stick together, the collision becomes a perfectly inelastic collision. In this type of collision, the total momentum is conserved while the total kinetic energy is not as it is converted into other forms of energy such as sound and heat.

  Equation: m¹v¹ + m²v² = (m¹ + m²)vf