Momentum, Impulse, Conservation of 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 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 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.

Front

What is an inelastic collision?

Back

An inelastic collision is a type of collision where momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not.

Front

What is a completely inelastic collision?

Back

A completely inelastic collision is a type of collision where the two objects stick together after colliding, resulting in maximum kinetic energy loss.

Front

How do you calculate the total momentum of a system?

Back

To calculate the total momentum of a system, sum the momentum of all individual objects: Total Momentum = p1 + p2 + ... + pn.

Front

If a 10 kg object moves at 5 m/s, what is its momentum?

Back

Momentum = mass × velocity = 10 kg × 5 m/s = 50 kg m/s.

Front

What happens to momentum in a closed system during a collision?

Back

In a closed system, the total momentum before the collision equals the total momentum after the collision.

Front

What is the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions?

Back

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