Conservation of Momentum (HT only)

• What is conserved in a system according to the conservation of momentum principle?

  Total momentum
• What does it mean that the total momentum is the same before and after an event?

  Momentum is conserved throughout the event
• How can the conservation of momentum be used in predicting motion?

  It predicts motion of colliding objects
• What are the steps to calculate momentum before and after a collision?

  1. Calculate initial momentum of each object
  2. Sum initial momenta for total momentum
  3. Calculate final momentum of each object
  4. Ensure total momentum before equals total momentum after
• What is the velocity of the first object before the collision?

  0.5 m/s
• What is the mass of the second object before the collision?

  0.3 kg
• What is the velocity of the second object before the collision?

  0.2 m/s
• What is the momentum of the first object before the collision?

  $-0.05 \text{ kg m/s}$
• What is the momentum of the second object before the collision?

  $0.06 \text{ kg m/s}$
• What is the total momentum before the collision?

  $0.01 \text{ kg m/s}$
• What is the mass of the first object after the collision?

  0.1 kg
• What is the mass of the second object after the collision?

  0.3 kg
• What is the total momentum after the collision?

  $0.01 \text{ kg m/s}$
• What must the total momentum be after the collision?

  It must equal the total momentum before
• What is the total mass of the two balls after the collision?

  0.4 kg
• What is the velocity of the two balls after the collision?

  $0.025 \text{ m/s}$
• What are the key concepts of conservation of momentum in collisions?

  • Total momentum is conserved
  • Momentum before equals momentum after
  • Used to predict motion of colliding objects