Momentum Conceptual Questions

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 happens to the total momentum of a system when no external forces act on it?

Back

The total momentum of a system remains constant, according to the law of conservation of momentum.

Front

If two objects collide and stick together, what type of collision is this?

Back

This is called an inelastic collision.

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

In a closed system, if one object gains momentum, what happens to another object?

Back

Another object must lose an equal amount of momentum, keeping the total momentum constant.

Front

What is the direction of momentum for an object moving to the right?

Back

The momentum is also directed to the right.

Front

How does increasing the velocity of an object affect its momentum?

Back

Increasing the velocity of an object increases its momentum, as momentum is directly proportional to velocity.

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 the total momentum of two equal mass objects moving towards each other at the same speed?

Back

The total momentum is zero after the collision, as they cancel each other out.

Front

What happens to the momentum of a firework at the peak of its flight before it explodes?

Back

The total momentum is zero at the peak, as it momentarily stops before the explosion.