For a system of interacting objects, the total momentum in a specific direction remains constant as long as no external forces act on the system.A group of interacting objects with no external forces acting on them is called a closed system.When objects collide the total momentum they had before and the total momentum after the collision is the same.The gain in momentum of one object is equal to the loss of momentum of the other.
Conservation of Momentum
The principle of conservation of momentum states that:
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Specification: OCR Physics A (H156), AS-level, 3.5.2 Collisions. Topic: Momentum.
Key terms in this lesson
- density
- The mass per unit volume of a substance.
- resistance
- The ratio of the potential difference across a component to the current through it.
More in Momentum
- Newton's Second Law of Motion
- Newton's Third Law of Motion
- The Four Fundamental Forces
- Linear Momentum
- Explosions vs Collisions
- Elastic and Inelastic Collisions
- Air Bags
- Conservation of Momentum as a Consequence of Newton's Laws
All 14 lessons in Momentum · All OCR AS-level Physics topics