Is Momentum Conserved in a Lever System?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the conservation of momentum in a lever system, specifically analyzing how forces applied at different points on a lever affect momentum transfer. When a force of 1 Newton is applied at a distance of 1 meter from the pivot, it results in a 10 Newton force acting on a 1 kg object located 10 centimeters from the pivot, leading to a momentum gain of 10 kg*m/s per second. The analysis concludes that while angular momentum is conserved, the apparent discrepancy in momentum input and output suggests that the lever itself may contribute to the momentum transfer, particularly when considering the relationship between force, distance, and time.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Familiarity with concepts of torque and angular momentum
  • Basic knowledge of kinetic energy equations
  • Experience with force and motion dynamics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of torque and its calculation in lever systems
  • Explore the relationship between force, time, and momentum change using F = p/t
  • Investigate the implications of massless levers on momentum conservation
  • Learn about the conservation of angular momentum in various physical systems
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Physics students, mechanical engineers, and anyone interested in the principles of mechanics and momentum conservation in lever systems.

kmarinas86
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We will apply a force of some distance for some period of time.

Let's say the goal is to apply a maximum force over a small distance.

We apply 1 Newton at right angles to a frictionless lever, 1 meter from the pivot point.
At 10 centimeters from that pivot point is an object that weighs 1 kg, and the force it receives is 10 Newtons. Because the force is 10 Newtons, the object gains 10 kg*m/s of momentum per second. Two special situations may be considered:
1) Had the force been higher, the object would gain greater than 10 kg*m/s due to greater acceleration.
2) For the same force, a heavier mass would accelerate more slowly but it would still absorb momentum at the same rate as determined by that same force.

The force on each lever arm is inversely proportional to the radius of each lever arm. Therefore, it can be assumed that this system as currently revealed involves the conservation of angular momentum. It also conserves energy. If one increases the length of the arm of input, the effort needed to be applied to do the same amount of work directly decreases.

The question then is, will the momentum going into the lever equal the momentum going out of the lever? If the force going into the lever is 1 Newton, it is absorbing momentum at a rate of 1 kg*m/s per second. If the force going out of the lever is 10 Newtons, it is applying momentum at a rate of 10 kg*m/s per second. This defies common sense. It implies that a rate of momentum utilization of 9 kg*m/s per second is unaccounted for. The question however is, what is the direction of that force? That force is anti-parallel to the force applied on that lever. If we ignore the lever itself and simply accounted for the input and output forces (which are in opposite directions), common sense tells us that a rate of momentum of 9 kg*m/s is being utilized from whatever medium to which the force of 1 Newton is applied and from which the force of 10 Newtons comes from. The momentum, it seems, would have to come from the lever itself. Incongruous!

Even more shocking is when we consider the Newtons applied over a period of time. A force times time equals a change in momentum. Apparently, the kinetic energy stored in some mass would increase with the square of the force and the square of the time the force is applied, assuming a constant force and mass. For a given untethered mass, we could apply twice the force for half the time or half the force for twice the time and it would result in the same kinetic energy gained. The question is however, how far does the lever arm move in that time period. In the case of a lever arm of twice the length, half the force is applied resulting in the same acceleration of the object with the same torque, and the force is made at twice the velocity, resulting in the same power input (since force*velocity=power; e.g. prony brake). The opposite case occurs for a lever arm half as long with an applied force twice as much. Again, moving the same mass at the same rate does not affect the input power or input torque.

However, starting with the same lever arm, the input force * the input arm radius / the output arm radius = the output force. We return to the conundrum we found where output momentum exceeded input momentum, suggesting that the momentum came from the lever itself. If we think the input lever arm radius * input force as the calculation for torque, and if we recognize that torque is quantified as angular momentum transferred per unit time, we can easily see that angular momentum is conserved.

KE = 1/2 * mv^2

where
KE = Kinetic Energy
m=mass
v=velocity

p = mv

where
p = momentum
m=mass
v=velocity

KE = 1/2 * p^2/m

where
p^2/m = mv^2

F = p/t

where
t=time
p=F*t

KE = 1/2 * (F*t)^2/m

where
KE = F*d
d=1/2 * (F/m)*t^2
(F/m)=acceleration
d=1/2 * a * t^2
v_initial=0
d=change in position

These formulas are consistent with physical knowledge and with the above paragraphs.

Lesson: Conservation of momentum is really the conservation of ANGULAR momentum.
 
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kmarinas86 said:
The question then is, will the momentum going into the lever equal the momentum going out of the lever?
Not necessarily. The lever could be (nearly) massless. In that case it would have no momentum or kinetic energy at all.

After a quick scan, the things you said are correct. But it is so much harder to understand and error prone in verbal form rather than equation form.
 

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