All Flashcards
What are the differences between elastic and inelastic collisions?
Elastic: Kinetic energy is conserved, objects bounce off each other. Inelastic: Kinetic energy is not conserved, objects may stick together.
Compare and contrast momentum and impulse.
Momentum: A measure of an object's motion (mass x velocity). Impulse: Change in momentum, equal to force x time.
What are the steps to solve conservation of momentum problems?
- Identify the system and ensure it's closed (no external forces). 2. Write down the initial momentum of all objects in the system. 3. Write down the final momentum of all objects in the system. 4. Set the total initial momentum equal to the total final momentum. . 5. Solve for the unknown quantities.
What is the effect of doubling the mass of an object on its momentum, assuming velocity remains constant?
The momentum doubles.
What is the effect of doubling the velocity of an object on its momentum, assuming mass remains constant?
The momentum doubles.
What happens to the total momentum of an isolated system during a collision?
The total momentum remains constant (is conserved).
What happens to kinetic energy in an inelastic collision?
Kinetic energy is not conserved; some is converted to other forms of energy like heat and sound.
What happens to kinetic energy in an explosion?
Kinetic energy increases as potential energy is converted.