Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Total momentum refers to the combined momentum of all objects within a system. It takes into account both mass and velocity for each individual object.
Impulse is the change in momentum of an object and is equal to the force applied multiplied by the time interval over which it acts.
Conservation of momentum: This principle states that in a closed system where no external forces are present, the total momentum before an event or interaction is equal to the total momentum after.
Elastic collision: An elastic collision is a type of collision where both kinetic energy and momentum are conserved.