Physics Ch 8 Flashcards
Linear momentum
product of a system’s mass multiplied by its velocity (p = mv); SI unit = kg m/s
Newton’s Second Law of Motion
net external force equals the change in momentum of a system divided by the time over which it changes
Change in momentum
delta p = Fnet times the change in time; equals the average net external force multiplied by the time this force acts
Conservation of momentum principle
total momentum is conserved for any isolated system
Isolated system
system for which the net external force is zero
Quarks
fundamental constituent of matter and an elementary particle
Elastic collision
collision that conserves internal kinetic energy; can only be achieved with subatomic particles
Internal kinetic energy
sum of the kinetic energies of the objects in the system
Inelastic collision
collision in which the internal kinetic energy changes (it is not conserved); forces between colliding objects may remove or add internal kinetic energy
Perfectly inelastic collision
a collision in which the objects stick together is sometimes called this because it reduces internal kinetic energy more than does any other type of inelastic collision; reduces internal kinetic energy to the minimum it can have while still conserving momentum
Point masses
structureless particles that cannot rotate or spin