Momentum, Impulse, 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

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 impulse-momentum theorem?

Back

The impulse-momentum theorem states that the impulse on an object is equal to the change in momentum it causes.

Front

How do you calculate momentum?

Back

Momentum (p) is calculated using the formula p = mv, where m is mass in kilograms and v is velocity in meters per second.

Front

What happens to momentum in a closed system?

Back

In a closed system, the total momentum before an event (like a collision) is equal to the total momentum after the event, according to the law of conservation of momentum.

Front

What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?

Back

In elastic collisions, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. In inelastic collisions, momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not.

Front

What is the formula for calculating change in momentum?

Back

Change in momentum (Δp) is calculated as Δp = p_final - p_initial.

Front

If a 1,000 kg car is moving at 20 m/s, what is its momentum?

Back

The momentum of the car is 20,000 kg*m/s north.

Front

What is the effect of increasing collision time on impulse?

Back

Increasing the collision time reduces the force experienced by an object during a collision, as impulse is the product of force and time.

Front

How does mass affect momentum?

Back

An increase in mass will result in a proportional increase in momentum if velocity remains constant, as momentum is directly proportional to mass.