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, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity.

Front

How is total momentum calculated in a system of objects?

Back

Total momentum is calculated by summing the momentum of each object in the system. For two objects, it is p_total = p1 + p2 = m1*v1 + m2*v2.

Front

What is the principle of conservation of momentum?

Back

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

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; the objects may stick together after the collision.

Front

How do you calculate the change in momentum?

Back

Change in momentum is calculated using the formula Δp = p_final - p_initial.

Front

What happens to the velocity of two objects after a perfectly elastic collision?

Back

In a perfectly elastic collision, both objects exchange their velocities if they have the same mass.

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

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

Back

It is an inelastic collision.

Front

What is the effect of a net external force on momentum?

Back

A net external force acting on an object changes its momentum according to the impulse-momentum theorem: F_net * Δt = Δp.