Momentum — Apply
Question
Question
How is the conservation of momentum used to solve collision problems?
Answer
The total momentum before a collision equals the total momentum after, provided no external force acts, since momentum (p = mv) is conserved: m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2. Taking a consistent direction as positive (and the opposite as negative), this equation can be solved for an unknown mass or velocity.
← → arrow keys to navigate