conservation of momentum

• Momentum equals the mass multiplied by the velocity
• In a closed system, the total momentum before an event is equal to the total momentum after an event
• Calculating momentum in a collision

  1. Calculate momentum of each object before collision

  2. Add up total momentum before collision

  3. Total momentum before = Total momentum after

  4. Use total momentum after and total mass to calculate velocity after
• Momentum is always conserved in a closed system
• Velocity after collision = Total momentum after / Total mass