All Flashcards
What are the differences between elastic and inelastic collisions?
Elastic: Kinetic energy conserved, objects bounce. | Inelastic: Kinetic energy not conserved, energy lost as heat/sound, objects may stick.
What is the effect of a larger force acting over a longer time interval on momentum?
A larger change in momentum.
What happens when multiple forces act on a system?
The net force (vector sum of all forces) determines the change in momentum.
What happens when an object is at rest?
Its initial momentum is zero.
What happens when objects stick together after a collision?
You'll use the combined mass when calculating the final velocity of the system.
What is the effect of increasing the time of impact (e.g., with an airbag)?
It reduces the force on the object.
What are the steps to analyze two-object collisions?
- Calculate initial momentum of each object. 2. Calculate total initial momentum. 3. Apply conservation of momentum. 4. Solve for the unknown.