Conservation of Momentum Flashcard

Front

What is the Law of Conservation of Momentum?

Back

The Law of Conservation of Momentum states that in a closed system, the total momentum before and after a collision remains constant, meaning momentum is neither lost nor gained.

Front

What happens to momentum during a collision between two objects?

Back

During a collision, the total momentum of the two objects before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

Front

How is momentum calculated?

Back

Momentum (p) is calculated using the formula: p = mass (m) × velocity (v).

Front

What is the relationship between mass and momentum?

Back

Momentum is directly proportional to mass; an object with greater mass will have greater momentum if moving at the same velocity as a lighter object.

Front

What is an example of a real-world application of the conservation of momentum?

Back

A real-world example is a game of pool, where the momentum of the cue ball transfers to the other balls upon collision.

Front

What is the total momentum of a system?

Back

The total momentum of a system is the vector sum of the momenta of all objects within that system.

Front

What is an elastic collision?

Back

An elastic collision is a collision in which both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

Front

What is an inelastic collision?

Back

An inelastic collision is a collision in which momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved.

Front

How does the mass of an object affect its momentum?

Back

The greater the mass of an object, the greater its momentum, assuming the velocity remains constant.

Front

What happens to momentum when a bowling ball hits pins?

Back

The momentum lost by the bowling ball is transferred to the pins, causing them to move.