Momentum and Collisions

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 the principle of conservation of momentum?

Back

The principle states that in a closed system, the total momentum before a collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

Front

What is a perfectly inelastic collision?

Back

A perfectly inelastic collision is a type of collision where two objects stick together after colliding, and momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not.

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 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

How is impulse related to momentum?

Back

Impulse is equal to the change in momentum of an object, expressed as Impulse = Δp = p_final - p_initial.

Front

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

Back

Momentum is always conserved in a closed system during a collision, regardless of the type of 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

What is kinetic energy?

Back

Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion, calculated using the formula KE = 1/2 mv².

Front

What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?

Back

In elastic collisions, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved; in inelastic collisions, momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not.