AP Physics - Momentum

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 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

What is the Law of Conservation of Momentum?

Back

The Law of Conservation of Momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system before a collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.

Front

How does mass affect momentum?

Back

Momentum increases with an increase in mass, assuming velocity remains constant.

Front

How does velocity affect momentum?

Back

Momentum increases with an increase in velocity, assuming mass remains constant.

Front

If a car has a mass of 1,500 kg and is traveling at 20 m/s, what is its momentum?

Back

The momentum is 30,000 kg*m/s (p = mv = 1500 kg * 20 m/s).

Front

What happens to momentum if both mass and velocity are doubled?

Back

The momentum is quadrupled, as momentum is directly proportional to both mass and velocity.

Front

If a toy car's mass is doubled and its velocity is halved, what happens to its momentum?

Back

The momentum stays the same, as the increase in mass is offset by the decrease in velocity.

Front

What is an elastic collision?

Back

An elastic collision is a collision in which both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.

Front

What is an inelastic collision?

Back

An inelastic collision is a collision in which momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not.