Question

Given in the chapter:
If we have mass m₁ and velocityu₁ of one moving object and mass m₂ and velocity u₂of another moving object before collision and​massm₁and velocity​ v₁ of the first object andmassm₂and velocityv₂of the second object after collision, then the objects' momentum before the collision and after the collision will remain same.
Will the momentum be same before and after the collision if the mass is changed( like breaking apart of one object) of an object after the collision?

Answer 1

• Yes, even after the breaking of object into some parts, the total momentum of combined mass after collision is same as the total momentum before the collision. This is valid only when no external force is applied (according to the law of conservation of momentum)