Physics POGIL: Impulse and Momentum We have already encountered the concepts of force to explain why individual objects

move the way they do. However, objects often interact with each other, as in collisions and explosions, and we want to be able to describe how their interaction affects their motion. In these cases, we will not only be concerned about the forces between objects, but how much time those forces act. The quantities impulse and momentum will assist with this. We will become familiar with both in this POGIL. Impulse In each of the situations below, a person exerts a force on an object over time as described by the graph. Forces to the right are positive and forces to the left are negative. The impulse exerted is calculated for each situation. A person increases the speed of a cart by pushing it to the right with a constant force of 5 N for 10 s.

6 5
Force (N)
4

3 2 1
0
impulse = area between graph and horizontal axis = (5 N)(10 s) = 50 N-s

4 time (s)

10

A person slows down a cart by pushing it to the left with a constant force of 2 N for 20 s.

0.5 0 -0.5
Force (N)
-1 -1.5 -2 0 5 10 15 20

impulse = area between graph and horizontal axis = (2 N)(20 s) = 40 N-s

-2.5

time (s)

Physics A person pushes a cart to the right by steadily increasing the force to 10 N in 4 s then steadily decreasing the force in another 4 s.

12 10
Force (N)
8

6 4 2
0

impulse = area between graph and horizontal axis = (8 s)(10 N) = 40 N-s

4 time (s)

1. In each of the situations below, a person pushes a cart according to the force vs. time graph shown. In each case, calculate the impulse exerted by the person. (a) A person pushes a cart to the right with a constant force of 7 N for 5 s.

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 1 2 time (s) 3 4 5

Force (N)

impulse =

(b) A person pushes a cart to the left with a constant force of 30 N for 12 s.

5 0
-5 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Force (N)

-10 -15
impulse =

-20 -25 -30 -35 time (s)

Physics (c) A person pushes a cart to the right with a constant force of 10 N for 10 s, then to the left with a constant force of 5 N for 15 s.

15 10
Force (N)

5
impulse =

0
0 5 10 15 20 25

-5 -10

time (s)

(d) A person pushes a cart to the left by steadily increasing the force to 12 N in 6 s, then steadily decreasing the force to 0 in the next 6 s.

2 0
-2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Force (N)

-4 -6
impulse =

-8 -10 -12 -14 time (s)

2. In the picture below, a baseball player stands ready to catch a ball. He does so by exerting a steadily increasing force up to 200 N in 0.2 s, then steadily decreasing the force to zero in another 0.2 s.

(a) Plot the force vs. time exerted by the baseball player on the axes below. Be sure to put an appropriate scale on each axis.

Physics

Force (N)

time (s)
(b) Calculate the impulse exerted by the baseball player.

3. Rank the following forces in order from LOWEST impulse exerted to HIGHEST impulse exerted. Assume all the forces act to the right. (a) A force of F is exerted for 10 s. (b) A force of F is exerted for 20 s. (c) A force of F is exerted for 25 s. (d) A force of 2F is exerted for 5 s. (e) A force of F/5 is exerted for 5 minutes.

4. How can a person who can push with only 1 N of force exert the same impulse as a person who can push with 500 N of force?

Momentum The diagrams below show several objects of different masses moving at different velocities. Velocities to the right are positive and velocities to the left are negative. The momentum of each object is calculated. 15 kg 10 m/s momentum = mass velocity = (15 kg)(10 m/s) = 150 kg-m/s

10 m/s

15 kg

momentum = mass velocity = (15 kg)(10 m/s) = 150 kg-m/s

Physics 40 kg

20 m/s

momentum = mass velocity = (40 kg)(20 m/s) = 800 kg-m/s

5. Calculate the momentum of each object below. (a) A 70 kg sprinter runs with a velocity of 4 m/s to the right.

(b) A 0.1 kg baseball is thrown with a velocity of 35 m/s to the left.

(c) A 1000 kg automobile travels with a velocity of 25 m/s to the right.

(d) A 30 kg bicycle moves to the left at a speed of 10 m/s.

(e) A 15,000 kg truck is at rest.

6. Could a 3.5 g bullet ever have more momentum than a 1000 kg car? If not, why not? If so, how?

Momentum Representation A helpful way to represent momentum is by using rectangular areas on a velocity vs. mass grid. The width of the rectangle is equal to the mass and the height of the rectangle is equal to the velocity; thus, the area of the rectangle is: area = width height = mass velocity = momentum A few examples are shown below.

20
15 kg 10 m/s

15
10

area = 150 kg-m/s

velocity (m/s)

5 0

momentum = width height = (15 kg)(10 m/s) = 150 kg-m/s

-5 0 -10 -15 -20

10

20

30

40

50

mass (kg)

Physics 5 m/s 40 kg

20 15
10

velocity (m/s)

area = 200 kg-m/s

5 0

momentum = width height = (40 kg)(5 m/s) = 200 kg-m/s

-5 0 -10 -15 -20

10

20

30

40

50

mass (kg)

50 kg

10 m/s

20 15
10
area = 500 kg-m/s

momentum = width height = (50 kg)(10 m/s) = 500 kg-m/s

velocity (m/s)

5 0

-5 0 -10 -15 -20

10

20

30

40

50

mass (kg)

7. Calculate the momentum of each object below and represent it with the proper shaded area on the velocity vs. mass grid provided. (a) A 15 kg sled moves at 15 m/s to the right.
20 15
10

velocity (m/s)

5 0

-5 0 -10 -15 -20

10

20

30

40

50

mass (kg)

Physics (b) A 45 kg wagon moves to the left at 15 m/s.

20 15
10

velocity (m/s)

5 0

-5 0 -10 -15 -20

10

20

30

40

50

mass (kg)

(c) A 35 kg child runs to the right at 2.5 m/s.

20 15
10

velocity (m/s)

5 0

-5 0 -10 -15 -20

10

20

30

40

50

mass (kg)

(d) A 40 kg bicycle is at rest.

20 15
10

velocity (m/s)

5 0

-5 0 -10 -15 -20

10

20

30

40

50

mass (kg)

Problems 8. A 15,000 kg truck and 1200 kg car have the same momentum. What is the ratio of the speed of the car to the speed of the truck?

Physics 9. The impulse-momentum theorem states that the impulse delivered to an object is equal to its change in momentum. This can be written as impulse = change in momentum = final momentum initial momentum. Suppose a bat hits a 0.3 kg baseball with a force that steadily increases up to 400 N for 0.1 s and then steadily decreases down to zero for another 0.1 s. The baseballs velocity just before impact is 45 m/s to the left. (a) What is the initial momentum of the baseball?

(b) Plot the force vs. time exerted by the bat on the axes below. Be sure to put an appropriate scale on each axis.

Force (N)

time (s)

(c) What is the impulse that the bat exerts on the baseball?

(d) What is the momentum of the baseball just after impact with the bat?

(e) What is the speed of the baseball just after impact?

(f) On the grid below, represent both the initial and final momentum of the baseball with the proper shaded areas. Be sure to put an appropriate scale on each axis.

velocity (m/s)

mass (kg)