Momentum

Question 1

What is momentum (conceptually)?

Answer 1

It’s mass in motion

Question 2

Equation for momentum

Answer 2

p = mv

Question 3

What is impulse?

Answer 3

Change in momentum and its equation is:

J = Delta p

Question 4

How can impulse be derived?

Answer 4

From Newton’s Second Law. Force is equal to mass times acceleration.

Acceleration is change in velocity divided by change in time. From this, we deduce that force times change in time is equal to mass times change in velocity, which is change in momentum.

Question 5

Impulse in terms of calculus?

Answer 5

Impulse, denoted by J, is equal to the integral of Force times delta time.

It’s also the integral of the change of momentum

Question 6

In an isolated system (No forces are acting on the system externally) what happens to momentum?

Answer 6

Momentum is conserved

Question 7

If the sum of the forces is equal to zero, what can we say about momentum?

Answer 7

It is conserved.

Question 8

Is there any difference between elastic and inelastic collision regarding conservation of momentum?

Answer 8

No, both of them are conserved but there’s a difference in conservation of energy.

Energy is conserved in elastic collision but not in inelastic collision.