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 is the law of conservation of momentum?

Back

The law of conservation of momentum 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

What happens to momentum in an explosion?

Back

In an explosion, the total momentum before the explosion is equal to the total momentum after the explosion, but the individual pieces may move in different directions.

Front

What is an elastic collision?

Back

An elastic collision is a type of collision where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

Front

What is an inelastic collision?

Back

An inelastic collision is a type of collision where momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved.

Front

What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?

Back

In elastic collisions, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved; in inelastic collisions, only momentum is conserved.

Front

How does mass affect velocity in a closed system?

Back

In a closed system, if the mass of an object increases, its velocity must decrease to conserve momentum, assuming no external forces act on it.

Front

What is the formula for calculating momentum?

Back

The formula for calculating momentum is p = mv, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity.

Front

What is the effect of throwing an object in space?

Back

When an object is thrown in space, the thrower will move in the opposite direction due to the conservation of momentum.

Front

What is the momentum of an object at rest?

Back

The momentum of an object at rest is zero, as momentum is the product of mass and velocity (p = mv), and velocity is zero.