Linear Momentum: Collisions
Terms and Formulae
Terms
Collision
-
The brief direct contact between two bodies that results in a net impulse on
each body.
Elastic Collision
-
Any collision in which kinetic energy is
conserved.
Inelastic Collision
-
Any collision in which kinetic energy is
not conserved.
Completely Inelastic Collision
-
Any collision in which the two bodies stick together.
Formulae
| Position of the center of mass of a system of particles |
x
cm = 
m
n
x
n
|
| Velocity of the center of mass of a system of particles |
v
cm =
m
n
v
n
|
| Acceleration of the center of mass of a system of particles |
a
cm =
m
n
a
n
|
| Acceleration of the center of mass of a system of particles given an external force |
F
ext = Ma
cm
|
| Definition of Impulse | J = FΔt |
| Change in velocity caused by an impulse | J = mv f - mv o |
| Definition of momentum | p = mv |
| Relation between force and momentum |
 =
F
|
| Impulse-Momentum Theorem | J = Δp |
| Definition of the linear momentum of a system of particles | P = Mv cm |
