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 Impulse = Force × Time.

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 and after a collision remains constant, provided no external forces act on it.

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; the objects may stick together after the collision.

Front

How do you calculate the change in momentum?

Back

Change in momentum is calculated as the final momentum minus the initial momentum: Δp = p_final - p_initial.

Front

What is the formula for calculating momentum?

Back

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

Front

If a 2200 kg car traveling at 23 m/s collides with a stationary truck, how do you find the truck's velocity after the collision?

Back

Use the conservation of momentum: m1v1 + m2v2 = m1v1' + m2v2', where m1 and m2 are the masses, v1 and v2 are the initial velocities, and v1' and v2' are the final velocities.

Front

What is the relationship between force and impulse?

Back

Impulse is equal to the change in momentum, which can also be expressed as the product of force and the time duration over which the force acts: Impulse = Force × Time.

Front

How does throwing a snowball demonstrate conservation of momentum?

Back

When the penguin throws the snowball, the momentum gained by the snowball is equal and opposite to the momentum lost by the penguin, illustrating conservation of momentum.