Guiding Questions

Question

1. What is meant by the saying "the momentum of the system is conserved"?
2. What happens in a Newton’s cradle?
3. How is momentum conserved in a Newton's cradle when one steel ball hits the other?
4. How is momentum conserved during collisions?
5. How does Newton's third law explain the law of the conservation of momentum?
6. What is a complex collision? Does the law of conservation of momentum still apply?
7. What is the difference between an inelastic and an elastic collision?

Answer each question in order, answer in very short sentences, and in bold words

Answer 1

1. Momentum conservation means total momentum remains constant in an isolated system.

2. In a Newton’s cradle, balls swing, transferring momentum and energy through collisions.

3. When one ball hits another, it transfers momentum to the next ball, conserving total momentum.

4. During collisions, total momentum before the collision equals total momentum after the collision.

5. Newton’s third law states forces are equal and opposite, ensuring momentum conservation in interactions.

6. A complex collision involves multiple bodies interacting; momentum conservation still applies.

7. Inelastic collisions do not conserve kinetic energy; elastic collisions do conserve kinetic energy.