Momentum and Impulse



A 45.6-g golf ball with a radius of 1.9 cm is struck by a driver whose head
has a mass of 8.70 g.  The final speed of the golf ball after leaving the
club face is 100 mph (44.7 m/s).

What is the size and direction of the impulse experienced by the golf ball?
What is the impulse experienced by the head of the golf club?
How much work is done on the golf ball by the golf club head?
What is the Force applied to the golf ball by the golf club head?

[ Hint:  Assume that the collision between the face of the golf club and
the golf ball is a perfect, elastic collision. ]


Before the golfer begins his or her swing, the golf ball is at rest, thus having an initial velocity of 0.00 m/s.  If the golf ball leaves the club face at a speed of    44.7 m/s, the change in velocity must be:


            change in velocity  =  final velocity  -  initial velocity

            change in velocity  =  ( 44.7 m/s )   -   ( 0.00 m/s )

            change in velocity  =  44.7 m/s


In order to determine the impulse experienced by the golf ball, one must determine the change in momentum.  Momentum is equal to the product of the mass of the object and the velocity of the object.  Since the ball is initially at rest, the initial momentum is zero.  The final momentum, however, is:


            Momentum  =  mass  *  velocity

            Final Momentum  =  ( 0.0456 kg )  ( 44.7 m/s )

            Final Momentum  =  2.04 kg m/s


Thus, the change in momentum, which is the impulse experienced by the golf ball, is:


    Momentum Change of Golf Ball  =  Final Momentum  -  Initial Momentum

    Momentum Change of Golf Ball  =    ( 2.04 kg m/s )   -     ( 0.00 kg m/s )

    Momentum Change of Golf Ball  =  + 2.04 kg m/s


Because the value is positive for the golf ball, the change in momentum and the impulse are in the same direction.


In order to determine the impulse experienced by the head of the golf club, one must determine the change in momentum, as performed above.  Because of the idea of "Conservation of Momentum," which states that the total momentum of the system before the collision is equal to the total momentum of the system after the collision if no external forces are acting on the system, any impulse in the positive direction during the collision must have an equal and opposite impulse in the negative direction during the same collision.  This idea can be used to determine the impulse experienced by the head of the golf club after the collision with the golf ball.


    Momentum Change of Club Head  =  - ( Momentum Change of Golf Ball)

    Momentum Change of Club Head  =  - ( 2.04 kg m/s )

    Momentum Change of Club Head  =  - 2.04 kg m/s


Because the value is negative for the golf club head, the change in momentum and the impulse are in the opposite direction.


In order to determine the amount of work done by the golf club head on the golf ball, one must first understand what "Work" actually is and how it relates to Kinetic Energy.  Work the application of a constant force by one object on another in the direction of the displacement.  Kinetic Energy is the energy that an object has that causes it to move.  Work is directly related to a change in Kinetic Energy.


                Net Work  =  Final Kinetic Energy  -  Initial Kinetic Energy

                Kinetic Energy  =  0.5 ( Mass ) ( Velocity )^2


Because the golf ball is initially at rest, thus the velocity is equal to zero, the Initial Kinetic Energy of the golf ball is zero.  Once the golf club head makes contact with the golf ball, some kinetic energy is transferred from the golf club head to the golf ball (in the form of an impulse).  Because the direction of the force is equal to the direction of the displacement, the Work that the golf club head does on the golf ball is equal the change in Kinetic Energy that is experienced by the golf ball.


        Net Work  =  Ball's Final Kinetic Energy  -  Ball's Initial Kinetic Energy

        Net Work  =  0.5 ( Mass ) ( Velocity )^2  -  0

        Net Work  =  0.5 ( .0456 kg ) ( 44.7 m/s )^2

        Net Work  =  0.5 ( .0456 kg ) ( 2000 m^2/s^2 )

        Net Work  =  45.6 J


Since Work is the application of a constant force in the direction of a displacement, one could use the formula for Work in order to determine the amount of Force that is applied by the golf club head on the golf ball.  The golf ball, a spherical object, can deform as much as the distance of its radius.  The Force of the golf club head on the ball is applied throughout this deformation.


                                Work  =  ( Force ) ( Displacement )

                                Work  =  ( Force ) ( Deformation )

                                ( 45.6 J )  =  ( Force ) ( 0.019 m )

                                Force  =  2400 N

[ The assumptions used in solving this problem are fairly accurate.  The impulse experienced by the golf ball will have to be slightly higher than the + 2.04 kg m/s in order to create the change in velocity of 44.7 m/s.  When the golf club head makes contact with the golf ball, both the golf ball and the club head deform.  The impulse needed to create this deformation is not taken into account here.]