5.2 Representations of Changes in Momentum

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 the change in momentum calculated?

Back

The change in momentum (Δp) is calculated as the final momentum (pf) minus the initial momentum (pi), or Δp = pf - pi.

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 is equal to the total momentum after the event, provided no external forces act on it.

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 Impulse = Force × Time (J = FΔt).

Front

How does a net force affect momentum?

Back

A net force applied to an object results in a change in momentum over time, with the magnitude of the change depending on the size of the force and the duration it is applied.

Front

What is the relationship between force and momentum?

Back

The relationship is defined by Newton's second law, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the rate of change of its momentum (F = Δp/Δt).

Front

What happens to momentum when two objects collide?

Back

In a collision, momentum is transferred between the objects, and the total momentum of the system is conserved if no external forces act on it.

Front

What is a variable net force?

Back

A variable net force is a force that changes in magnitude and/or direction over time, affecting the acceleration and momentum of an object.

Front

How do you determine the direction of momentum change?

Back

The direction of momentum change is determined by the direction of the net force applied to the object; if the force opposes the motion, momentum decreases, and if it aligns with the motion, momentum increases.

Front

What is the effect of friction on momentum?

Back

Friction opposes motion and can reduce the momentum of an object by converting kinetic energy into thermal energy.