Momentum and Impulse

Front

What is momentum?

Back

Momentum is the product of an object's mass and its velocity, represented by the formula p = 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

What is the law of conservation of momentum?

Back

The law states that in a closed system, the total momentum before an event is equal to the total momentum after the event.

Front

What conditions must be met for momentum to be conserved?

Back

Momentum is conserved when the net external force acting on a system is zero.

Front

What is a perfectly elastic collision?

Back

A perfectly elastic collision is one in which both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved, and there is no lasting deformation or generation of heat.

Front

What is a perfectly inelastic collision?

Back

In a perfectly inelastic collision, the colliding objects stick together after the collision, and momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not.

Front

How do you calculate the momentum of an object?

Back

Momentum (p) is calculated using the formula p = mv, where m is mass and v is velocity.

Front

What happens to momentum in a closed system during a collision?

Back

In a closed system, the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

Front

What is the relationship between force and impulse?

Back

Impulse is equal to the change in momentum, which can also be expressed as the product of force and the time duration over which the force acts.

Front

How do you find the final velocity of two objects that collide and stick together?

Back

Use the conservation of momentum: m1v1 + m2v2 = (m1 + m2)v_final.