Science Forces and Momentum

Momentum

a property of an object that is related to how much force is necessary to change its motion. A vector quantity, as it has velocity which has direction

SI Unit for Momentum

kg x m/s

Formula for Momentum

p = m x v

Law of Conservation of Momentum

—Momentum can be transferred from one object to another

—The momentum of an object will not change (it is conserved) unless its mass, velocity, or both, change

—“In the absence of an external force (gravity, friction), the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision, or is CONSERVED.”

Elastic Collisions

collisions where the objects bounce off of each other or separate.

Inelastic Collisions

—collisions where the objects stick together and move as one. The mass after the collision is equal to the sum of the masses and there is just one final velocity.

Impulse-Momentum Theorum

the impulse (the time over which a force is applied) acting on an object is equal to the change in momentum of the object (its mass x  the change in velocity)

Impulse Equation

Impulse (force x time) = change in momentum (mss x change in velocity)