Momentum, Impulse, and Conservation of 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

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 the product of the average force and the time duration, represented by the formula J = FΔt.

Front

What are the units of momentum?

Back

The standard metric units of momentum are kilograms * meter/second (kg·m/s).

Front

What are the units of impulse?

Back

The standard metric units of impulse are Newton * second (N·s).

Front

How does momentum change when speed is doubled?

Back

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

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, provided no external forces act on it.

Front

What is the formula for calculating momentum?

Back

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

Front

What happens to momentum in an elastic collision?

Back

In an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

Front

What happens to momentum in an inelastic collision?

Back

In an inelastic collision, momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved; some kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy.

Front

Can a small car have more momentum than a big truck?

Back

Yes, a small car can have more momentum than a big truck if it is moving at a sufficiently high speed.