Law of Conservation of Momentum

Definition

The law of conservation of momentum states that in any isolated system, the total momentum before an event (such as a collision) is equal to the total momentum after that event, provided no external forces act on it.

Related terms

Impulse:

Impulse refers to the change in momentum experienced by an object when acted upon by a force for a certain amount of time.

Elastic Collision:

An elastic collision is a type of collision where kinetic energy is conserved before and after impact. Objects bounce off each other without any loss in energy.

Inelastic Collision:

An inelastic collision is a type of collision where kinetic energy is not conserved before and after impact. Some energy is lost, usually in the form of heat or deformation.