Momentum Conceptual Questions

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 an event (like a collision) is equal to the total momentum after the event.

Front

What is an elastic collision?

Back

An elastic collision is a type of collision where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. Objects bounce off each other without losing energy.

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

What happens to momentum when a car triples its velocity?

Back

The momentum of the car triples because momentum is directly proportional to velocity (p = mv). If velocity increases by a factor of three, momentum increases by the same factor.

Front

What is the effect of throwing an object in space on the thrower?

Back

When an object is thrown in space, the thrower will move in the opposite direction due to the conservation of momentum, but at a lower speed than the thrown object.

Front

What is the total momentum of a system after an explosion?

Back

The total momentum of a system after an explosion remains the same as before the explosion, provided no external forces act on it.

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, and kinetic energy is lost.

Front

What is an example of a real-world elastic collision?

Back

An example of an elastic collision is two billiard balls colliding on a pool table, where they bounce off each other without losing energy.

Front

What is an example of a real-world inelastic collision?

Back

An example of an inelastic collision is a car crash, where the cars crumple together and kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy.