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Eric Meloche, Ph.D.

This comprehensive course covers impulse, momentum and conservation of linear momentum.

The  course combines lectures that summarize the important concepts and  tutorials that will guide you and help you develop a problem solving  strategy.  You'll learn how to apply conservation of momentum principles to study collisions.

Topics include in this class are:

1)  Linear Momentum and Newton's 2nd Law

2)  Calculating Impulse and Average Forces

3)  Conservation of Linear Momentum

4)  Kinetic Energy of a System

5) Collisions in 1-Dimension

6) Collisions in 2-Dimensions

Read more

This comprehensive course covers impulse, momentum and conservation of linear momentum.

The  course combines lectures that summarize the important concepts and  tutorials that will guide you and help you develop a problem solving  strategy.  You'll learn how to apply conservation of momentum principles to study collisions.

Topics include in this class are:

1)  Linear Momentum and Newton's 2nd Law

2)  Calculating Impulse and Average Forces

3)  Conservation of Linear Momentum

4)  Kinetic Energy of a System

5) Collisions in 1-Dimension

6) Collisions in 2-Dimensions

7) Rocket Propulsion: Thrust Force and Speed

There are over 40 fully solved problems ranging in difficulty.   I've  mixed in many conceptual problems as well as algebraic problems to help  you practice applying energy principles to solve problems.

If at any point you don't understand something in my videos please  feel free to reach out.  I'm always willing to help someone learn.   Physics Ninja always has your back.

Happy Learning

Dr. E.,

Physics Ninja and Expert Physics and Math Teacher.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Students will be able to solve a wide variety of problems dealing with impulse, momentum, and collision problems
  • How to setup up problems dealing with collisions
  • Difference between elastic and inelastic collisions
  • Learn how to apply the impulse-momentum theorem

Syllabus

Introduction
Introduction: Definition of Momentum
Momentum as a vector quantity
Momentum and Newton's Second Law
Read more

In this video we apply the previous equations to a collision between a tennis ball and a basketball.    We assume that the collision is perfectly elastic and that the mass of the basketball is much greater than the tennis ball.

The conceptual and short problems are located in the pdf attachment of this video.    Try the problems on your own then watch the video solutions.   Good luck!

This is a problem often found in momentum chapters of physics textbooks.   I consider a projectile that explodes once it reaching the maximum height.    I consider the case where the initial projectile has a mass 2m and it explodes into 2 fragments, each of mass m.    One of the fragments stops and falls immediately below the explosion point.  The other segment travels farther.     This problem can be solved using projectile motion or position of the center of mass.  Both approaches are presented.

In this problem i review the ballistic pendulum.   I use conservation of momentum to find the velocity of the Block and bullet system immediately after the collision.    I also use convervation of energy after the collision to relate the maximum height of the block+bullet to the initial kinetic energy of the bullet.  This is a standard problem found in most physics textbooks.

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Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers linear momentum and Newton's Second Law, which are fundamental concepts for understanding classical mechanics and dynamics
Includes over 40 fully solved problems, offering learners ample opportunity to practice and reinforce their understanding of the material
Explores collisions in both one and two dimensions, which are essential topics in introductory physics courses and engineering applications
Examines rocket propulsion, which involves calculus, so learners should be prepared to apply their knowledge of derivatives and integrals
Presents a derivation of thrust and rocket speed, which requires a solid understanding of calculus and differential equations
Includes problems involving variable mass systems, which are more advanced and may require a deeper understanding of calculus and physics principles

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Reviews summary

Mastering impulse, momentum, and collisions

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation and clear explanations for understanding impulse, momentum, and collisions. Students highlight the extensive solved problems and tutorials as particularly helpful in developing problem-solving skills. While the course structure is generally well-received, some learners note that certain advanced topics, like 2D collisions or rocket propulsion (which involves calculus), can be challenging and may require prerequisite knowledge. Overall, the course is seen as a valuable resource for mastering these fundamental physics concepts through practice.
Instructor is responsive and helpful.
"The instructor is always quick to respond to questions in the Q&A."
"It's great knowing the 'Physics Ninja' has your back!"
"I felt supported whenever I got stuck on a problem."
"The instructor's willingness to help makes a big difference."
Concepts are explained clearly and concisely.
"The lectures were incredibly clear and made complex topics easy to grasp."
"I found the explanations for impulse and momentum to be very straightforward."
"The instructor's teaching style is excellent, breaking down concepts well."
"Everything was explained step-by-step, which was really helpful for me."
Provides many solved problems for practice.
"The sheer number of solved problems is fantastic practice."
"Working through the tutorials and problem sets really solidified my understanding."
"I appreciated the variety of problems, from conceptual to algebraic."
"The solved examples helped me understand how to approach different scenarios."
Some advanced topics can be difficult.
"The 2D collision problems were quite a jump in difficulty."
"The section on rocket propulsion involving calculus was tough."
"I struggled a bit with the more advanced problems near the end."
"Requires a decent math background for some of the later sections."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Physics 100: Mastering Impulse, Momentum, and Collisions with these activities:
Review Newton's Laws of Motion
Reinforce your understanding of Newton's Laws, which are foundational for understanding momentum and impulse.
Browse courses on Newton's Laws of Motion
Show steps
  • Review the definitions of Newton's three laws.
  • Work through example problems applying each law.
  • Relate the laws to real-world scenarios.
Read 'Fundamentals of Physics' by Halliday and Resnick
Supplement your learning with a comprehensive physics textbook that covers momentum and collisions in detail.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Fundamentals of Physics'.
  • Read the chapters on momentum, impulse, and collisions.
  • Work through the example problems in the book.
Read 'Physics for Scientists and Engineers' by Serway and Jewett
Supplement your learning with a comprehensive physics textbook that covers momentum and collisions in detail.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Physics for Scientists and Engineers'.
  • Read the chapters on momentum, impulse, and collisions.
  • Work through the example problems in the book.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Solve Conservation of Momentum Problems
Practice applying the principle of conservation of momentum to various collision scenarios.
Show steps
  • Find practice problems involving elastic and inelastic collisions.
  • Solve each problem, showing all steps clearly.
  • Check your answers and review the solutions.
Create a Video Explaining Impulse
Solidify your understanding of impulse by creating a short video explaining the concept to others.
Show steps
  • Research and gather information about impulse.
  • Write a script for your video.
  • Record and edit your video.
  • Share your video with others.
Design a Collision Experiment
Apply your knowledge by designing and conducting an experiment to investigate collisions.
Show steps
  • Choose a type of collision to investigate.
  • Design an experiment to measure relevant variables.
  • Conduct the experiment and collect data.
  • Analyze your data and draw conclusions.
Create a Simulation of Collisions
Create a computer simulation to visualize and explore different collision scenarios.
Show steps
  • Choose a programming language or simulation software.
  • Implement the physics equations for collisions.
  • Create a user interface to control parameters.
  • Test and refine your simulation.

Career center

Learners who complete Physics 100: Mastering Impulse, Momentum, and Collisions will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Aerospace Engineer
An aerospace engineer designs, develops, and tests aircraft and spacecraft. This work often involves analyzing forces and motion, especially related to propulsion and collisions. This course, which focuses on mastering impulse, momentum, and collisions, directly helps build a foundation for understanding the physics behind how rockets and spacecraft move, particularly the principles of thrust and variable mass systems. The course's detailed exploration of rocket propulsion and variable mass problems is quite useful for an aspiring aerospace engineer. One who wants to enter this field may find this course particularly valuable as it will help them solve problems related to dynamic motion.
Simulation Specialist
A simulation specialist uses computer modeling to simulate real world systems. This work requires deep familiarity with the underlying physical principles, such as the principles of impulse, momentum, and collisions. This course's detailed explanations of momentum conservation and collisions in different dimensions may be quite useful since these principles are often the basis of these simulations. The opportunity to practice problem solving using the methods presented in this course can help an aspiring simulation specialist build skills that can be immediately applied in their career. One who designs simulations may find this course to be valuable.
Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical engineers design, build, and test mechanical devices and systems. A key aspect of this work involves analyzing force, motion, and energy transfer, often using principles of impulse and momentum. This course may be helpful to aspiring mechanical engineers by providing hands-on experience solving problems related to collisions and momentum within mechanical systems. The ability to apply the Impulse-Momentum Theorem and understand topics like elastic and inelastic collisions are directly relevant. This course builds a strong base for success as a mechanical engineer because it provides practice solving problems related to real world systems.
Test Engineer
A test engineer designs and performs tests on products and systems to ensure they meet performance and safety standards. This work often requires a strong understanding of mechanics, especially concepts such as collisions, impulse, and momentum transfer. The approach to problem solving presented in this course, with its emphasis on a methodical approach, may be very helpful. The course's focus on collisions and impulse is also quite pertinent to the daily work of a test engineer. Anyone who wants to pursue a career as a test engineer may find this course to be particularly useful.
Automotive Engineer
Automotive engineers design and develop vehicles, focusing on performance, safety, and fuel efficiency. Designing for crash safety requires a strong understanding of collisions and momentum transfer, as covered in this course, which makes it a valuable study tool. The course's exploration of one and two dimensional collisions is particularly relevant to an automotive engineer, as well as its many problem sets that provide an ability to practice applying the theory to particular problems. This course may be a useful tool to aid anyone pursuing a career in automotive engineering, especially when paired with coursework in structural analysis.
Engineering Consultant
An engineering consultant provides expert advice on engineering projects to clients across various industries. This can involve detailed analysis of mechanical systems and how they interact. This coursework, which focuses on impulse, momentum, and collisions, helps build a foundation for analyzing such systems, as well as providing a hands-on approach to understanding how mechanical principles can be applied. The course's detailed problem sets on collisions may be particularly valuable to anyone hoping to provide expertise in this role. A student hoping to work in engineering consultancy may find this to be a useful course.
Robotics Engineer
A robotics engineer designs, builds, and programs robots. This work requires a deep understanding of mechanics, including how forces and momentum affect motion. This course, with its focus on impulse, momentum, and collisions, may be quite useful because it provides a foundation for designing and analyzing the movement of robotic mechanisms. The course's detailed problem sets and tutorials on applying conservation of momentum principles to study collisions are directly relevant to the analysis of robot interactions within their environments. A student drawn to robotics will find the practical approach to problem solving in this course to be quite valuable.
Research Scientist
A research scientist conducts experiments and studies to explore scientific phenomena. Research in areas like physics, engineering, and materials science may rely on a solid understanding of mechanics, including momentum and collisions, which makes this course beneficial. This course, which emphasizes problem solving related to collisions, the impulse-momentum theorem, and systems of interacting particles, helps to build a foundation for performing such research. The various problem sets offered in the course are also helpful because they provide practice in applying scientific methodology and also developing mathematical model. An aspiring research scientist may find this course helpful in their career.
Physics Teacher
A physics teacher educates students on the principles of physics. A deep understanding of topics like momentum, impulse, and collisions is quite useful for a physics teacher. This course, with its thorough coverage of these topics and focus on problem-solving, can help one to develop a strong base of knowledge in mechanics. This course, particularly the problem sets and tutorials, may also assist in understanding how to explain complex concepts and guide students through different types of problems. It is an excellent resource for students who want to teach physics.
Materials Scientist
A materials scientist researches and develops new materials, often focusing on their mechanical properties and how they behave under different conditions. Understanding how forces, momentum, and collisions are transferred through different materials is a key aspect of this job. This course may be helpful for a materials scientist because it explores these topics in detail. The problem sets in this course, which provide hands-on examples of applying impulse and momentum principles to real world situations may also be helpful. Anyone interested in a career in materials science may benefit from this course and the skills it provides.
Sports Analyst
A sports analyst uses data and physics to evaluate player performance and game strategies. An understanding of impulse, momentum, and collisions is very helpful for analyzing the physics of sports, such as the impact of a bat on a ball or the motion of a player after a tackle. This course may be useful for people focused on analyzing the physical aspects of sports because it provides an opportunity to explore collisions, momentum transfer, and also gain experience in solving problems related to such events. The course's exploration of concepts like kinetic energy of a system is also particularly useful. This course may add to the skills of a sports analyst.
Biomedical Engineer
A biomedical engineer designs and develops solutions to medical and health related problems. This can involve analyzing forces and motion in biological systems, or designing prosthetic devices. This course, which emphasizes momentum, impulse, and collisions, can help to build a good understanding of fundamental mechanics. The course's inclusion of a variety of example problems is also helpful since many biological systems can be modeled using similar principles. This course may be helpful to a biomedical engineer.
Game Developer
A game developer creates and designs interactive video games. Physics engines within games rely on a knowledge of forces and motion, such as momentum and collisions. This course, with its focus on impulse, momentum, and collisions is quite relevant to an aspiring game developer because it presents the underlying principles necessary to design realistic game mechanics. The included problem sets are also a great way to test understanding of the concepts presented. One who hopes to develop video games will find this course may be helpful.
Data Analyst
A data analyst interprets and analyzes data to identify trends and insights. While this role does not directly involve physics, understanding how to create models and solve problems is an important skill. The approach to problem solving emphasized in this course may be helpful to those aspiring to data analysis because it provides a framework to approach difficult analytic tasks and also provides an opportunity to practice breaking complex problems into manageable steps. The skills developed while exploring the momentum of a system and solving collision problems may make this course useful.
Forensic Scientist
A forensic scientist analyzes evidence to help solve crimes, and this often requires a strong grasp of physics, particularly when analyzing collisions and impacts. This course may help a forensic scientist by providing a detailed explanation of how momentum and impulse work in collision interactions. The course's focus on problem solving can provide a useful framework for analyzing real world situations. The course may be a good source of understanding for a forensic scientist.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Physics 100: Mastering Impulse, Momentum, and Collisions.
Standard introductory physics textbook used in many universities. It provides a comprehensive overview of mechanics, including momentum, impulse, and collisions. It useful reference for understanding the underlying principles and for solving a wide range of problems. This book adds more depth to the course.
Is another commonly used introductory physics textbook. It offers a clear and concise explanation of momentum, impulse, and collisions. It useful reference for understanding the concepts and for solving problems. This book is helpful in providing background knowledge.

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