Physic Labs

Newtonian mechanics

Momentum

Explore momentum p=mvp = mv and the impulse–momentum theorem J=FΔt=ΔpJ = F\Delta t = \Delta p in one-dimensional motion. Measure p before and after a force F acts for a duration Δt.

High school

Equipment

  • «1. Động lượng p=mv» canvas: the momentum vector along the motion axis; drag to rotate the view
  • «Khối lượng m» (mass, 1–10 kg) and «Vận tốc v» (velocity, −8…8 m/s) sliders
  • «2. Xung lượng đổi động lượng» canvas: vectors pᵢ before and p_f after the impulse
  • «Lực trung bình F» (average force, −20…20 N) and «Thời gian Δt» (duration, 0.1–1.0 s) sliders
  • «Tạm dừng chuyển động» (pause) button; readouts «Động lượng p = mv = …» and «Xung lượng J = FΔt = …; p sau = …»

Procedure

  1. Measure p = mv vs m and v

    In section 1, hold «Vận tốc v» fixed and raise «Khối lượng m» from 1 to 10 kg: the p arrow lengthens and the «p = mv» readout grows linearly. Then set v negative — the vector reverses and p takes a negative sign relative to the rightward axis. Verify several pairs against p=mvp = mv.

  2. Compute the impulse J = FΔt

    In section 2, set «Lực trung bình F» = 8 N and «Thời gian Δt» = 0.4 s (slider at 4): the readout gives J = 3.2 N·s. Double Δt to 0.8 s and watch J double; set F negative and see J and the p_f vector reverse — a force opposing the motion reduces momentum.

  3. Verify p_f = pᵢ + J

    Choose m = 4 kg, v = 5 m/s (pᵢ = 20 kg·m/s), then set F and Δt so that J = −25 N·s: the «p sau» readout must show −5 kg·m/s — the p_f vector reverses relative to pᵢ on the canvas. Repeat with J > pᵢ and J ≈ −pᵢ to see the body speed up, reverse, or stop; each time check pf=pi+FΔtp_f = p_i + F\Delta t.

  4. Predict before changing conditions

    Predict: keeping J fixed but splitting it differently (F = 20 N for 0.4 s vs F = 8 N for 1.0 s) — is p_f the same? Test on the simulation and explain why only the product FΔt matters (airbags lengthen Δt to reduce F for the same reason). Press «Tạm dừng chuyển động» to compare the pᵢ and p_f vectors.

Simulation

Experiment history

In Principia Philosophiae (1644) René Descartes proposed a «quantity of motion» proportional to a body's size times its speed, held conserved in the universe — a precursor of momentum, though he ignored direction. John Wallis (1668) and Christiaan Huygens (1669) presented correct collision rules to the Royal Society, showing that the conserved quantity must be the directed mv. Isaac Newton, in Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (1687), defined «quantitas motus» as mass times velocity and stated his second law as the rate of change of momentum being proportional to the applied force — exactly the impulse theorem FΔt=ΔpF\Delta t = \Delta p illustrated by the simulation. Galileo Galilei had earlier clarified inertia, without which momentum has no meaning.

Related physicists

Related library topics