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Science
Conservation Of Linear Momentum

Conservation Of Linear Momentum

The second and the third laws of motion lead to an important result: the law of conservation of momentum. 

According to law of conservation of momentum, 

‘When the net external force on a system of objects is zero, the total momentum of the system remains constant’. 

Law of Conservation of Momentum : Proof

Let us consider two balls A and B having masses mA and mB, travelling in the same direction along a straight line at different velocities uA and uB, respectively. No other external unbalanced forces are acting on them. 

Let uA > uB and the two balls collide with each other. During collision which lasts for a very short time t, ball A exerts a force FBA on ball B, and ball B exerts a force FAB on ball A. Suppose vA and vB are the velocities of the two balls A and B after the collision, respectively.

Initial momentum of ball A = mAuA, and final momentum of ball A = mAvA

Force on A due to B, FAB = rate of change of momentum of ball A

FAB​=tmA​vA​−mA​uA​​=tmA​(vA​−uA​)​ ...(1)

Initial momentum of ball B = mBuB, and final momentum of ball B = mBvB

Force on B due to A, FBA = rate of change of momentum of ball B

FBA​=tmB​vB​−mB​uB​​=tmB​(vB​−uB​)​ ...(2)

According to Newton’s third law of motion, the force FBA exerted by ball A on ball B (action) and the force FAB exerted by ball B on ball A (reaction) must be equal and opposite to each other. That is,

FBA = – FAB

tmB​(vB​−uB​)​=−tmA​(vA​−uA​)​

mB(vB – uB) = – mA(vA – uA)

mBvB – mBuB = – mAvA + mAuA  

mBvB + mAvA = mBuB + mAuA ...(3)

Since, (mBvB + mAvA) represents total final momentum and (mBuB + mAuA) represents total initial momentum, from eq.(3), we can conclude that

Total final momentum = Total initial momentum

Thus, in an isolated system (a system with no external force), mutual forces between pairs of particles in the system can cause momentum change in individual particles, but since the mutual forces for each pair are equal and opposite, the momentum changes cancel in pairs and the total momentum remains unchanged. This fact is known as the law of conservation of momentum.

Alternate Method

If net external force on the system is zero then linear momentum of the system remains constant.

According to newtons II law.

Fext​=dtdp​

If Fext​=0

dtdp​=0

The preceding equation demonstrates that    

⇒  p=constant

PInitial​=PFinal​

As a result when the force acting on the system is zero. The system’s total linear momentum is either conserved or constant. 

The total linear momentum for ‘n’ particles is represented as 

p=p1​+p2​+p3​+p4​+…+pn​

Δp=Δp1​+Δp2​+Δp3​+…+Δpn​

Now,

p1​+p2​+p3​+p4​+…+pn​=constant

So, 

Δp1​+Δp2​+…+Δpn​=0

for two particle system p1​+p2​=constant

So, Δp1​+Δp2​=0

Δp1​=−Δp2​

According to Newton’s second law, force F can be written as, 

F=tΔp​  where, Δp is the change in momentum of the object.

or Δp = F × t

This means, F × t is the change in momentum of the bullet and – F × t is the change in momentum of the gun. Since initially, both are at rest, the change in momentum equals the final momentum for each. Let pb be the momentum of the bullet after firing and pg is the recoil momentum of the gun, then, 

pb = F × t ... (1)      

and  pg = – F × t ... (2)

Adding eq.(1) and eq.(2), we get, pb + pg = 0. That is, the final momentum of the system (bullet plus gun) is zero. But, initial momentum of the system is also zero. This means initial momentum is equal to the final momentum i.e., total momentum is conserved.

Table of Contents


  • 0.1Law of Conservation of Momentum : Proof
  • 0.2Alternate Method

Frequently Asked Questions

When the net external force on a system is zero, the total linear momentum of the system remains constant.

In an isolated system, there are no external forces. Mutual forces between particles in the system may change the momentum of individual particles, but the total momentum of the system remains constant because the forces are equal and opposite, canceling each other out.

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