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, and the objects bounce off each other.

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 or deform.

Front

How do you calculate the final velocity of two colliding objects?

Back

Use the conservation of momentum formula: m1v1 + m2v2 = m1v1' + m2v2', where m is mass and v is velocity before and after the collision.

Front

What is the formula for calculating impulse?

Back

Impulse can be calculated using the formula Impulse = Change in Momentum = m(v_f - v_i), where v_f is final velocity and v_i is initial velocity.

Front

What is the relationship between impulse and momentum?

Back

Impulse is equal to the change in momentum of an object, meaning Impulse = Δp = p_final - p_initial.

Front

How does mass affect momentum?

Back

Momentum increases with mass; for a given velocity, a heavier object will have greater momentum than a lighter object.

Front

What happens to momentum in a perfectly elastic collision?

Back

In a perfectly elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved, and the objects bounce off each other without losing energy.