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                Skip to the Future   October, 2006        

Under Construction!   Valuable links    Click on gray "Data Probe" Internet Physics

Momentum and Impulse            Units Conversions

Terms and Formulae
Terms
Center of Mass  -  The point at which a given net force acting on the system will produce the same acceleration as if all the mass were concentrated at that point.
Impulse  -  A force applied over a period of time. See definition of impulse.
Momentum  -  The product of an object's mass and velocity.  See definition of momentum. (

Momentum in classical mechanics

In classical mechanics, momentum (traditionally written as p) is defined as the product of mass and velocity. It is thus a vector quantity.

vec{p} = m vec{v}

Conservation of Momentum  -  The principle stating that for any system with no external forces acting on it, momentum will be conserved. 

Definition of momentum  P = mv
Definition of Impulse J = FΔt
Change in velocity caused by an impulse J = mvf - mvo
Definition of the linear momentum of a system of particles P = Mvcm

50 years ago, the formula was....FT = MV...Has it changed?  Or  Impulse = mometum

Momentum and Collisions...just click and have a lot of fun below!

bullet The Astronaut Catch (10 seconds)
bullet The Diesel Engine and Flatcar Collision (27 seconds)
bulletThe Cart and The Brick
bullet Part A - 2-kg Brick dropped on a 3-kg Cart (26 seconds)
bullet Part B - 2-kg Brick dropped on a 1-kg Cart (28 seconds)
bulletThe Fish Catch
bullet Big Fish in Motion Catches Little Fish (15 seconds)
bullet Little Fish in Motion is Caught by Big Fish (31 seconds)
 
bulletCar-Truck Collisions (collisions between objects of unequal mass)
bullet Car "Rear-Ends" Truck - Inelastic (12 seconds)
bullet Truck "Rear-Ends" Car - Inelastic (16 seconds)
bullet Car "Rear-Ends" Truck - Elastic (28 seconds)
bullet Truck "Rear-Ends" Car - Elastic (16 seconds)
bullet Head-On Collision Between Car and Truck - Inelastic (28 seconds)
bullet Head-On Collision Between Car and Truck - Elastic (24 seconds)
 
bulletTwo Dimensional Collision Between Two Cars (8 seconds)