Collisions

Front

What is the definition of a collision?

Back

A collision is an event where two or more objects come into contact with each other, resulting in a transfer of energy and momentum.

Front

What does Newton's 1st law of motion state?

Back

An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion until acted upon by a force.

Front

What does Newton's 2nd law of motion explain?

Back

The force on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration (F = ma).

Front

What is Newton's 3rd law of motion?

Back

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Front

What happens to the forces during a collision?

Back

The forces exerted by the colliding objects are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

Front

What is momentum?

Back

Momentum is the product of an object's mass and its velocity, represented as p = mv.

Front

How does mass affect the outcome of a collision?

Back

In a collision, a heavier object will generally exert a greater force and may cause more damage than a lighter object.

Front

What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?

Back

In elastic collisions, kinetic energy is conserved, while in inelastic collisions, kinetic energy is not conserved.

Front

What is an example of a real-life collision?

Back

A car crash is a common example of a collision where two vehicles collide.

Front

What does it mean for an object to change its motion?

Back

Changing motion means an object is speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.