Momentum & Impulse Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is momentum?

Quantity of motion an object has. If an object is in motion, it has momentum.

What is the relationship between mass, velocity, and momentum?

The greater the mass and velocity, the greater the momentum.

What is impulse?

The product of the average force and the time over which it acts, F x t.

What does the impulse-momentum theorem state?

The impulse on an object is equal to the change in momentum, F x Change in t = P2 - P1. Signup and view all the answers

Objects at rest do not have momentum.

True Signup and view all the answers

When should you use the impulse-momentum change equation?

When determining the new momentum or the new velocity of an object. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between change in momentum and impulse?

The change in momentum is equal to the impulse. A large change in momentum occurs only with a large impulse. Signup and view all the answers

When can a large impulse occur?

From either a large force acting over a short period of time or a small force acting over a long period of time. Signup and view all the answers

What is the law of conservation of momentum?

The total momentum of a closed, isolated system is constant. The total momentum before and after a collision is the same. Signup and view all the answers

What are the equations for the law of conservation of momentum?

P total 1 = P total 2 and mv total 1 = mv total 2. Signup and view all the answers

What are the equations for two objects in a collision that stick together afterward?

P1a + P2a = P total-b and m1v1 + m2v2 = (m1 + m2)v final. Signup and view all the answers

What are the equations for two objects in a collision that bounce off each other?

P1a + P2a = P1b + P2b and m1v1a + m2v2a = m1v1b + m2v2b. Signup and view all the answers

What is impulse in relation to a collision?

Impulse is the force acting over a certain amount of time during a collision. Signup and view all the answers

The impulse serves to change the ______ of the object.

momentum Signup and view all the answers

Momentum is a __ quantity.

vector Signup and view all the answers

What is the equation for change in momentum?

p1 - p2 Signup and view all the answers

Describe Newton's 3rd law in relation to collisions.

In a collision between two objects, both encounter a force resulting from their mutual interaction. The force on object one is equal to and opposite in direction as the force on object two. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between mass and acceleration?

The greater the mass, the slower the acceleration. The lower the mass, the greater the acceleration. Signup and view all the answers

Between two objects in a collision, which object experiences the greater force?

They're both the same. Signup and view all the answers

In a collision between two objects, which object experiences the greatest impulse?

They're both the same. Signup and view all the answers

In a collision between two objects, which object experiences the greatest change in momentum?

They are both the same. Change in momentum is equal to impulse. Signup and view all the answers

In a collision between two objects, which object experiences the greatest acceleration?

The object with the least mass. Signup and view all the answers

According to the law of momentum conservation, if a collision occurs in an isolated system, then any object involved in the collision will conserve its own momentum.

False Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Momentum

Defined as the quantity of motion an object possesses, related to both its mass and velocity.
Momentum is calculated using the formula: momentum = mass × velocity.
Greater mass and greater velocity result in greater momentum.

Impulse

Impulse is the product of average force and the duration of time the force acts, represented as F × t.
The impulse-momentum theorem states that the impulse on an object equals its change in momentum.

Key Relationships

Objects at rest have zero momentum.
Newton's second law indicates that the change in velocity is influenced by the applied force, formulated as a = F/m.
Large changes in momentum require large impulses, which can result from either a large force acting over a short time or a small force over a longer duration.

Conservation of Momentum

In a closed, isolated system, the total momentum remains constant before and after an interaction, described by the law of conservation of momentum.
Equations for conservation of momentum can be expressed as:
- P total initial = P total final
- mv total initial = mv total final

Collision Scenarios

For two objects colliding and sticking together, the equation is: m1v1 + m2v2 = (m1 + m2)v final.
For elastic collisions where objects bounce off each other, the equation is: m1v1 initial + m2v2 initial = m1v1 final + m2v2 final.

Impulse in Collisions

The force experienced by an object during a collision, acting for a specific duration, is termed impulse.
Impulse specifically changes the momentum of an object.

Characteristics of Momentum

Momentum is a vector quantity, possessing both magnitude and direction.
Change in momentum can be calculated using the equation: p final - p initial.

Newton's Third Law and Collisions

In collisions, both involved objects exert equal and opposite forces on each other, in accordance with Newton's third law.
When analyzing forces during a collision, both objects experience the same force, impulse, and change in momentum.
The object with the least mass experiences the greatest acceleration.

Misconceptions

In an isolated system, the total momentum conserved means individual objects do not conservatively retain their own momentum; rather, the sum must remain constant.

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Description

Test your understanding of momentum and impulse with these flashcards. Each card provides key definitions and relationships that are essential for mastering these concepts in physics. Perfect for review or study sessions!