Momentum Conservation

Definition

The principle that states that the total momentum before an event involving interacting objects is equal to the total momentum after the event if no external forces act on them.

Related terms

Impulse:

The change in momentum of an object resulting from a force applied over a certain time interval.

Elastic Collision:

A collision between objects where both kinetic energy and momentum are conserved.

Inelastic Collision:

A collision between objects where only momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is not conserved.