Conservation of momentum
The conservation of momentum simply states that:
The total momentum of a closed system stays the same, even after a collision.
What does this mean?
When multiple objects collide, the momentum of each object may change, but the total momentum of all the objects combined will remain the same.
Vectors
Remember that momentum is a vector quantity.
If two objects are moving in opposite directions, towards each other, then collide, their momentums before the collision may be, for example:
- Object A:
+5 \, kgms^{-1} - Object B:
-3 \, kgms^{-1}
The total momentum before the collision is:
So the momentum of the two objects after the collision must also add up to
flashcards
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the principle of conservation of momentum? | The total momentum of a closed system stays the same, even after a collision. |
| What happens to the total momentum when multiple objects collide? | The momentum of each object may change, but the total momentum of all the objects combined will remain the same. |
| What type of quantity is momentum? | A vector quantity. |
| If Object A has momentum | |
| After two objects collide with a total initial momentum of | The momentum of the two objects after the collision must also add up to |