Momentum and Collisions

Front

Momentum Noun

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[moh-men-tuhm]

Back

Momentum

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The quantity of motion of a moving object, calculated as the product of the object's mass and velocity.

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Example: An object's momentum depends on its mass and velocity; a heavier bowling ball has more momentum than a lighter baseball at the same speed.

Front

Mass Noun

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[mas]

Back

Mass

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A measure of the amount of matter in an object, which determines its resistance to acceleration when a force is applied.

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Example: This image shows that different objects have different amounts of mass. The rock has more mass than the feather, causing the balance scale to tip.

Front

Velocity Noun

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[vuh-los-i-tee]

Back

Velocity

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The rate of change of an object's position with respect to a frame of reference, including its speed and direction.

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Example: This diagram shows the relationship between velocity (v), displacement (d), and time (t) using a formula triangle, a tool to remember how to calculate each variable.

Front

Vector Quantity Noun

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[vek-ter kwon-ti-tee]

Back

Vector Quantity

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A physical quantity that is fully described by both a magnitude, which is its numerical size, and a direction.

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Example: This diagram shows forces acting on a block. Each force is a vector quantity because it is represented by an arrow that has both a direction and a magnitude (length).

Front

Magnitude Noun

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[mag-ni-tood]

Back

Magnitude

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The numerical size or amount of a physical quantity, considered separately from its direction in space.

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Example: A speedometer shows a car's speed, which is the magnitude (or size) of its velocity, but not its direction.

Front

Impulse Noun

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[im-puls]

Back

Impulse

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The change in momentum of an object when a force is applied over a specific interval of time.

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Example: This diagram shows that impulse is a force acting over time. A ball hitting a wall experiences a large force for a short time, causing it to bounce back.

Front

Conservation of Momentum Noun

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[kon-ser-vey-shuhn of moh-men-tuhm]

Back

Conservation of Momentum

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The principle stating that the total momentum of an isolated system remains constant before and after any interaction.

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Example: When two cars collide, the total momentum of the system before the crash is the same as the total momentum after the crash.

Front

Isolated System Noun

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[ahy-suh-ley-tid sis-tuhm]

Back

Isolated System

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A physical system that does not exchange any matter or energy with its surroundings, free from external forces.

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Example: This diagram shows a vacuum flask, which is designed to be an isolated system that minimizes heat exchange with its surroundings using vacuum insulation.

Front

External Force Noun

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[ek-stur-nl fawrs]

Back

External Force

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A force acting on a system that originates from outside the system, capable of changing its total momentum.

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Example: A person pushing a box is an external force that can change the box's momentum, causing it to move.

Front

Collision Noun

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[kuh-lizh-uhn]

Back

Collision

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An event in which two or more bodies exert forces on each other in a relatively short time.

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Example: This image shows two objects moving towards each other and making contact, which is the moment of collision where forces are exerted and momentum is transferred.