Momentum and Conservation of Momentum

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to momentum and its conservation, as presented in the lecture notes.

Momentum

The quantity of motion an object has, calculated as the product of its mass and velocity (p = mv).

Conservation of Momentum

The principle stating that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant before and after a collision.

Momentum after the collision

The momentum of an object after it has collided with another object, defined as P_f = m2v2.

Initial Momentum

The momentum of an object before a collision, defined as P_i = m1v1.

How is momentum different from force?

Momentum is dependent only on velocity, while force is dependent only on acceleration.

Newton's Cradle

A device demonstrating the conservation of momentum and energy through a series of swinging balls.

To increase momentum, an object must have either or .

Greater mass or greater velocity.

What happens to the momentum in a collision?

Momentum is transferred from one object to another, and total momentum before and after the collision is conserved.