Physics Chapter 6: Momentum Flashcards

The product of an object's mass and its velocity. It's a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.

kg⋅m/s

The greater the mass of an object, the greater its momentum.

The change in momentum of an object caused by a force acting over time. It's also defined as the product of force and time.

F∆t = ∆p, where F is force, ∆t is time interval, and ∆p is change in momentum.

A longer contact time results in a greater impulse. This means a greater change in momentum.

The total momentum of a closed, isolated system remains constant during interactions.

m1v1i + m2v2i = m1v1f + m2v2f

Collisions where two objects collide and move together as a single mass. Kinetic energy is not conserved in these collisions.

m1v1i + m2v2i = (m1 + m2)vf

Collisions where two objects remain separate after colliding and kinetic energy is conserved.

A type of inelastic collision where the objects stick together after the collision, resulting in a significant loss of kinetic energy.

A measure of an object's resistance to changes in its velocity.

The ability to do work. It is equal to half the mass multiplied by the velocity squared.

Force multiplied by the time over which it acts.

In a closed system, the total momentum before a collision equals the total momentum after the collision. However, kinetic energy can be lost in inelastic collisions due to heat or sound.

The momentum of a single object in a closed, isolated system remains constant. This is due to the absence of external forces.

When objects move in opposite directions, their velocities have opposite signs in the momentum equation.

Airbags increase the time of impact during a car crash, thus reducing the force experienced by the passengers. This minimizes injury by reducing the change in momentum.

When a ball is hit by a bat, the momentum of the ball changes due to the impulse applied by the bat. This change in momentum is due to the force exerted by the bat and the duration of contact.

Momentum is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. Therefore, it can be added and subtracted like vectors.

The impulse-momentum theorem states that the impulse acting on an object is equal to the change in momentum. This means that a larger impulse leads to a larger change in momentum.

When a rocket expels fuel, it experiences a change in momentum in the opposite direction, propelling it forward. This is an example of conservation of momentum.

A system can be considered closed and isolated if there are no external forces acting on it. This means that the total momentum of the system will remain constant.

Collisions can be classified as elastic or inelastic based on whether kinetic energy is conserved. In elastic collisions, KE is conserved, while in inelastic collisions, KE is lost.

In a perfectly inelastic collision, the objects stick together after the collision. This results in the maximum possible loss of kinetic energy since the system ends up with only one object moving.