Conservation of Momentum Unit Review

Front

What is the principle of conservation of momentum?

Back

In an isolated system, the total momentum before an interaction is equal to the total momentum after the interaction.

Front

What happens to momentum in an isolated system when two objects collide?

Back

The total momentum of the system is always conserved.

Front

How is momentum calculated?

Back

Momentum (p) is calculated using the formula p = mass (m) × velocity (v).

Front

What is the unit of momentum?

Back

The unit of momentum is kilogram meter per second (kg·m/s).

Front

What type of collision occurs when two objects stick together after colliding?

Back

This is called an inelastic collision.

Front

What is an elastic collision?

Back

An elastic collision is one in which both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

Front

If a 1000-kg car is moving southward at 20 m/s, what is its momentum?

Back

The momentum is 20000 kg·m/s south.

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

What is the formula for calculating the final velocity of two colliding objects?

Back

The final velocity can be calculated using the conservation of momentum: m1*v1 + m2*v2 = (m1 + m2)*vf.

Front

What does it mean for momentum to be conserved?

Back

It means that the total momentum of a system remains constant if no external forces act on it.