Week 5: Momentum and Impulse | Classical Mechanics | Physics | MIT OpenCourseWare

Week 5: Momentum, Impulse, and Center of Mass

• Momentum and Impulse:
  • Definition and properties of momentum and impulse.
  • Impulse as a vector quantity.
  • Worked example: Bouncing ball dynamics.
• Systems of Particles:
  • Momentum of a system of point particles.
  • Force analysis on a system of particles.
  • Reduction of a complex system to a single point particle.
• Center of Mass (CoM):
  • Definition of the center of mass.
  • Calculation methods for discrete objects (3-object example) and continuous systems.
  • Analysis of extended objects (e.g., uniform rod).
  • Kinematics of the center of mass: Velocity and acceleration calculations.