06a - Momentum 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 the principle of conservation of momentum?

Back

The principle 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 happens to momentum in a perfectly elastic collision?

Back

In a perfectly elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

Front

What happens to momentum in a perfectly inelastic collision?

Back

In a perfectly inelastic collision, only momentum is conserved; kinetic energy is not conserved.

Front

How does doubling the speed of an object affect its momentum?

Back

Doubling the speed of an object doubles its momentum, since momentum is directly proportional to velocity.

Front

What is the formula for calculating momentum?

Back

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

Front

If a 2 kg cart has a momentum of 10 kg m/s, what is its velocity?

Back

The velocity of the cart is 5.0 m/s, calculated using the formula v = p/m.

Front

What is kinetic energy?

Back

Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion, calculated using the formula KE = 1/2 mv².

Front

How does mass affect momentum?

Back

Momentum is directly proportional to mass; increasing the mass of an object increases its momentum if velocity remains constant.

Front

What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?

Back

In elastic collisions, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved; in inelastic collisions, only momentum is conserved.