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 principle of conservation of momentum?

Back

The principle 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

What happens to momentum in an elastic collision?

Back

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

Front

What happens to momentum in an inelastic collision?

Back

In an inelastic collision, momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not conserved; some kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy.

Front

Define elastic collision.

Back

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

Front

Define inelastic collision.

Back

An inelastic collision is a collision in which momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not.

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 throwing an object in space on the thrower?

Back

The thrower will move in the opposite direction of the thrown object, but at a lower speed due to the conservation of momentum.

Front

If two objects of equal mass collide head-on with equal speed, what is their total momentum after the collision?

Back

Their total momentum after the collision will be 0, as they will come to a stop.