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 momentum when an object’s velocity triples?

Back

If an object's velocity triples, its momentum also triples, since momentum is directly proportional to velocity.

Front

In an explosion, how is momentum conserved?

Back

The total momentum before the explosion is equal to the total momentum after the explosion, meaning the vector sum of the momenta of all pieces must equal the initial momentum.

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 an inelastic collision?

Back

An inelastic collision is a collision in which momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved.

Front

What is the principle of conservation of momentum?

Back

The principle states that in a closed system, the total momentum before an event (like a collision or explosion) is equal to the total momentum after the event.

Front

If a stationary object explodes into multiple pieces, what can be said about the momentum of the pieces?

Back

The total momentum of the pieces after the explosion will be zero if the object was initially at rest.

Front

How does mass affect momentum?

Back

Momentum increases with mass; for a given velocity, a more massive object will have greater momentum.

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 a system when two objects collide?

Back

The total momentum of the system remains constant before and after the collision, assuming no external forces act on it.