Physics WAEC / WASSCE 2003 Newton's Laws, Momentum & Collisions
(a) Define (i) Linear momentum; (ii) Impulse (b) State the principle of conservation of linear momentum. (c) A tractor of mass 5.0 x 10\(^{3}\)kg is used a tow a car of mass 2.5 x 103 kg. The tractor moved with a speed of 3.0 ms\(^{-1}\) just before the towing rope becomes taut. Calculate the: (i) Speed of the tractor immediately the rope becomes taut (ii) Loss in kinetic energy of the system just after the car has started Moving; (iii) Impulse in the rope when it jerks the car into motion.