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Chapter 4

Linear momentum

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

In this chapter you will learn how to:

●understand the concept of momentum

●understand the vector nature of momentum

●express Newton’s second law in terms of the rate of change of momentum

●work with impulse and force–time graphs

●apply conservation of linear momentum

●work with elastic collisions, inelastic collisions and explosions

●work with two-dimensional collisions

GUIDING questions

●How does Newton’s second law generalise to cases of varying mass?

●How do we use momentum conservation?