Chapter 9: Linear Momentum and Collisions Reference Tools & Resources

Reference Tools & Resources

I. Key Terms and Phrases

linear momentum: the product of the mass and the velocity of an object.

impulse: the product of force and the amount of time the force acts.

collision: an interaction in which forces are exerted for a finite period of time.

conservation of linear momentum: the principle that the total linear momentum of a system remains constant unless a nonzero external net force is applied.

inelastic collision: a collision in which kinetic energy is not conserved.

center of mass: the average location of mass within a system.

thrust: the forward force exerted by the expelled mass in rocket exhaust.

II. Important Equations

Name/Topic	Equation	Explanation
linear momentum	p = mv	The definition of linear momentum.
Newton's second law		The most general form of Newton's second law.
impulse	I = FavDt = Dp.	The definition of impulse and its relationship to linear momentum.
center of mass		The x- and y-coordinates of the center of mass of a system.
thrust		The force exerted by rocket exhaust.

III. Know Your Units

Quantity	Dimension	SI Unit
linear momentum
impulse
thrust		N

Reference Tools and Resources by David Reid, Eastern Michigan University. ©2002 by Prentice Hall, Inc.

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