CHAPTER 3 Linear Impulse and Linear Momentum
CHAPTER 3 Linear Impulse and Linear Momentum
CHAPTER 3 Linear Impulse and Linear Momentum
3/8 Introduction
In the previous two articles, we focused on the equations of work and energy, which are obtained
by integrating the equation of motion F = ma with respect to the displacement of the particle.
We found that the velocity changes could be expressed directly in terms of the work done or in
terms of the overall changes in energy.
In the next two articles, we will integrate the equation of motion with respect to time rather than
displacement. This approach leads to the equations of impulse and momentum.
These equations greatly facilitate the solution of many problems in which the applied forces act
during extremely short periods of time (as in impact problems) or over specified intervals of time.
The velocity of the particle is v = 𝐫̇ and is tangent to its path (shown as a dashed line).
The resultant ΣF of all forces on m is in the direction of its acceleration 𝐯̇ .
We may now write the basic equation of motion for the particle, Eq. 3/3, as
Where the product of the mass and velocity is defined as the linear momentum G = mv of the
particle.
Equation 3/25 states that the resultant of all forces acting on a particle equals its time rate of
change of linear momentum.
In SI the units of linear momentum mv are seen to be kg•m/s, which also equals N • s.
In U.S. customary units, the units of linear momentum mv are [lb/(ft/sec2)][ft/sec] = lb-sec.
Because Eq. 3/25 is a vector equation, we recognize that, in addition to the equality of the
magnitudes of ΣF and 𝐆̇, the direction of the resultant force coincides with the direction of the
rate of change in linear momentum, which is the direction of the rate of change in velocity.
Equation 3/25 is one of the most useful and important relationships in dynamics, and it is valid as
long as the mass m of the particle is not changing with time.
We now write the three scalar components of Eq. 3/25 as
Here the linear momentum at time t2 is G2 = mv2 and the linear momentum at time t1 is
G1 = mv1.
The product of force and time is defined as the linear impulse of the force, and Eq. 3/27 states
that the total linear impulse on m equals the corresponding change in linear momentum of m.
Alternatively, we may write Eq. 3/27 as
Which says that the initial linear momentum of the body plus the linear impulse applied to it
equals its final linear momentum.
The impulse integral is a vector which, in general, may involve changes in both magnitude and
direction during the time interval.
Under these conditions, it will be necessary to express ΣF and G in component form and then
combine the integrated components.
The components of Eq. 3/27a are the scalar equations