AP Physics - Momentum

Front

What is momentum?

Back

Momentum is the product of an object's mass and its velocity, represented by the formula p = mv, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity.

Front

How is momentum conserved in a closed system?

Back

In a closed system, the total momentum before an event (like a collision) is equal to the total momentum after the event, assuming no external forces act on the system.

Front

What happens to momentum when the speed of an object is doubled?

Back

When the speed of an object is doubled, its momentum also doubles, since momentum is directly proportional to velocity.

Front

If a 0.15 kg mass is moving at +26 m/s, what is its momentum?

Back

The momentum is p = mv = 0.15 kg * 26 m/s = 3.9 kg*m/s.

Front

What is the relationship between mass and momentum?

Back

Momentum is directly proportional to mass; if mass increases while velocity remains constant, momentum increases.

Front

How can two objects have the same momentum?

Back

Two objects can have the same momentum if they have different masses and velocities that compensate for each other, such as a lighter object moving faster.

Front

What is the formula for calculating momentum?

Back

The formula for momentum is p = mv, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity.

Front

What happens to the momentum of an object if its mass is doubled and its velocity is halved?

Back

The momentum stays the same because the increase in mass is offset by the decrease in velocity: p = (2m)(v/2) = mv.

Front

What is impulse?

Back

Impulse is the change in momentum of an object when a force is applied over a period of time, calculated as impulse = force × time.

Front

How does a force affect the momentum of an object?

Back

A force applied to an object changes its momentum; the greater the force and the longer it is applied, the greater the change in momentum.