Stemscopedia: 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 an elastic collision?

Back

An elastic collision is a type of collision where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. Example: When two billiard balls collide and bounce off each other without losing speed.

Front

What is an inelastic collision?

Back

An inelastic collision is a type of collision where momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not. Example: A baseball caught in a glove.

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

How does impulse relate to momentum?

Back

Impulse is equal to the change in momentum of an object. This relationship can be expressed as Impulse = Δp (where Δp is the change in momentum).

Front

What happens to kinetic energy in an inelastic collision?

Back

In an inelastic collision, some kinetic energy is transformed into other forms of energy, such as heat or sound, and is not conserved.

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.

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

Can momentum be transferred between objects?

Back

Yes, momentum can be transferred between objects during collisions, affecting their velocities.

Front

What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?

Back

In elastic collisions, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved, while in inelastic collisions, momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not.