Is momentum always conserved?
Is momentum always conserved?
Explanation:
- Momentum is conserved in the horizontal direction, for instance, when air resistance is negligible and a projectile is traveling, as there is no force acting in that direction. The projectile's speed is not conserved in the vertical direction, despite the fact that the net vertical force there is not zero.
- Momentum is always conserved because there is no external force acting on an isolated system (like the universe). Since momentum can never change, all of its components will always remain constant. Problems brought on by collisions should be resolved using the rule of conservation of momentum.
When momentum is conserved:
The concept of conservation of linear momentum states that absent an external force, a body or system of bodies in motion maintains its total momentum, which is calculated as the product of mass and vector velocity. Since there are no outside forces in an isolated system (like the universe), momentum is always preserved.
When momentum is not conserved:
If there is friction, gravity, or a net force, momentum is not preserved (net force just means the total amount of force). It implies that an object's momentum will vary if you operate on it. Since you are changing the object's momentum by increasing or decreasing its velocity, this should be evident.
Hence, the momentum is not always conserved.
Explanation:
- Momentum is conserved in the horizontal direction, for instance, when air resistance is negligible and a projectile is traveling, as there is no force acting in that direction. The projectile's speed is not conserved in the vertical direction, despite the fact that the net vertical force there is not zero.
- Momentum is always conserved because there is no external force acting on an isolated system (like the universe). Since momentum can never change, all of its components will always remain constant. Problems brought on by collisions should be resolved using the rule of conservation of momentum.
When momentum is conserved:
The concept of conservation of linear momentum states that absent an external force, a body or system of bodies in motion maintains its total momentum, which is calculated as the product of mass and vector velocity. Since there are no outside forces in an isolated system (like the universe), momentum is always preserved.
When momentum is not conserved:
If there is friction, gravity, or a net force, momentum is not preserved (net force just means the total amount of force). It implies that an object's momentum will vary if you operate on it. Since you are changing the object's momentum by increasing or decreasing its velocity, this should be evident.
Hence, the momentum is not always conserved.
