All Flashcards
What is the definition of center-of-mass velocity?
The velocity of the system's center of mass.
What is the formula for center-of-mass velocity?
where is the sum of all individual object momenta and is the total mass of the system.
What is the definition of total system momentum?
Sum of all individual momenta in a system.
Define impulse.
Impulse () is the change in momentum () of a system:
What is the key idea behind momentum changes within systems when no external forces act?
Any change in momentum for one object is balanced by an equal and opposite change in momentum for another object (Newton's Third Law).
What is the relationship between impulse and momentum?
Impulse is equal to the change in momentum:
What is the effect of an external force acting on a system?
The change in momentum of the system will equal the impulse of that force.
What happens when the net external force on a system is zero?
The total momentum of that system stays constant.
What is the effect of impulse on momentum?
Impulse causes a change in momentum.
What happens to momentum when there is zero net external force vs. nonzero net external force?
Zero Net External Force: Total momentum of the system stays constant. Nonzero Net External Force: Momentum is transferred between the system and its surroundings.
What are the differences between elastic and inelastic collisions?
Elastic Collision: Kinetic energy is conserved. Inelastic Collision: Kinetic energy is not conserved.