Question

1. Conservation of Momentum Principle – In your own words, explain the conservation of momentum, and the condition of its application.

2. In your understanding, what real world applications could benefit from the study of momentum and impulse?

Answer 1

1.

Momentum is conserved for any interaction between two objects occurring in an isolated system. This conservation of momentum can be observed by a total system momentum analysis or by a momentum change analysis.

The system must be isolated or any kind of external force should not be acting on the system, this is the main condition for momentum to be conserved.

If we were to consider the above system and taking into considertion that system is isolated. So there would be a transfer of momentum , since there no exernal source so the and hence no energy is being given or getting out of the system so the sum of momentum before and after would be equal.

If we were to think other way , that momentum is not conserved and the sytem is isolated then this means energy is either created in the system or destroyed in the system which then violates the energy conservation law.

2.

One of the applications of conservation of momentum is the launching of rockets. The rocket fuel burns are pushed the exhaust gases downwards, and due to this, the rocket gets pushed upwards.

Motorboats also work on the same principle, it pushes the water backwards and gets pushed forwards in reaction to conserve momentum.

A system of gun and a bullet. Before firing the gun, both the gun and the bullet are at rest, so the total momentum of the system is zero. As the gun is fired, bullet shoots out of the gun and acquires momentum. To conserve the momentum of the system, the gun recoils.

If you have any doubt feel free to drop comment.

Please rate my answer.