Momentum and Impulse

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 impulse?

Back

Impulse is the change in momentum of an object when a force is applied over a period of time, calculated as the product of the average force and the time duration of the force application.

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) is equal to the total momentum after the event.

Front

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

Back

This is called an inelastic collision.

Front

What happens to momentum when two objects collide elastically?

Back

In an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

Front

How does doubling the speed of an object affect its momentum?

Back

Doubling the speed of an object doubles its momentum, since momentum is directly proportional to velocity.

Front

What is the formula to calculate momentum?

Back

The formula to calculate momentum is p = mv, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity.

Front

True or False: A larger mass always means greater momentum.

Back

False. Momentum also depends on velocity; a smaller mass can have greater momentum if it moves faster.

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.