AP Physics 1 Flashcards: Conservation Of Linear Momentum

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Conservation Of Linear Momentum, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Physics 1.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Identify the type of collision where kinetic energy is conserved.

Answer: Elastic collision. Both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved in this collision type.

Flashcard 2: What is the effect of an inelastic collision on the total kinetic energy?

Answer: Total kinetic energy decreases. Some kinetic energy converts to other forms during collision.

Flashcard 3: What term describes the product of force and time?

Answer: Impulse. Force applied over time creates impulse.

Flashcard 4: In a closed system, what can be said about the momentum before and after a collision?

Answer: Momentum before equals momentum after. Conservation law requires momentum equality before and after.

Flashcard 5: What is the principle of conservation of linear momentum?

Answer: Total momentum remains constant in an isolated system. A fundamental law stating momentum is conserved without external forces.

Flashcard 6: What quantity is conserved in all types of collisions?

Answer: Momentum. Universal conservation law for all collision scenarios.

Flashcard 7: Identify the formula representing the conservation of momentum in a collision.

Answer: $m_1v_1 + m_2v_2 = m_1v_1' + m_2v_2'$. Mathematical expression of momentum conservation for two objects.

Flashcard 8: What does the variable $p$ represent in the momentum formula?

Answer: Momentum. Standard physics notation for momentum in equations.

Flashcard 9: Which law of motion is associated with momentum conservation?

Answer: Newton's Third Law. Equal and opposite forces result in momentum conservation.

Flashcard 10: What kind of system is required for momentum conservation?

Answer: Isolated system. No external forces acting on the system are required.

Flashcard 11: What is the impulse on a 10 kg object with a velocity change from 0 to 5 m/s?

Answer: 50 kg·m/s. Change in momentum: $10(5) - 10(0) = 50$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 12: For a perfectly inelastic collision, what happens to the objects?

Answer: They stick together. Objects combine and move together with shared velocity.

Flashcard 13: Identify the variable representing velocity in momentum equations.

Answer: $v$. Standard symbol for velocity in physics equations.

Flashcard 14: State the formula for linear momentum.

Answer: $p = mv$. The product of mass and velocity defines momentum.

Flashcard 15: What is the final velocity of two 5 kg objects colliding and sticking together if one moves at 4 m/s?

Answer: 2 m/s. Using conservation: $(5)(4) + (5)(0) = (10)v$, so $v = 2$ m/s.

Flashcard 16: When two objects collide, how is total momentum calculated?

Answer: Sum of individual momenta before collision equals sum after. Conservation law: initial total momentum equals final total momentum.

Flashcard 17: How does doubling the mass of an object affect its momentum, assuming constant velocity?

Answer: Momentum doubles. Momentum is proportional to mass at constant velocity.

Flashcard 18: What is the effect of external forces on a system's momentum?

Answer: It can change the momentum. External forces can alter the system's total momentum.

Flashcard 19: Identify the variable representing velocity in momentum equations.

Answer: $v$. Standard symbol for velocity in physics equations.

Flashcard 20: Identify the formula representing the conservation of momentum in a collision.

Answer: $m_1v_1 + m_2v_2 = m_1v_1' + m_2v_2'$. Mathematical expression of momentum conservation for two objects.

Flashcard 21: What happens to momentum when no external forces act on a system?

Answer: Momentum remains constant. No external forces means no change in total momentum.

Flashcard 22: Determine the velocity change if a 4 kg object receives an impulse of 16 kg·m/s.

Answer: 4 m/s. Impulse equals change in momentum: $16/4 = 4$ m/s change.

Flashcard 23: If an object's velocity doubles, what happens to its momentum?

Answer: Momentum doubles. Momentum is proportional to velocity at constant mass.

Flashcard 24: How is impulse related to momentum?

Answer: Impulse equals change in momentum. The impulse-momentum theorem connects these quantities.

Flashcard 25: What is the result of an elastic collision in terms of momentum?

Answer: Momentum is conserved. Momentum conservation applies to all collision types.

Flashcard 26: Calculate the momentum of a 10 kg object at rest.

Answer: 0 kg·m/s. At rest means velocity is zero, so momentum is zero.

Flashcard 27: Identify the variable representing mass in momentum equations.

Answer: $m$. Standard symbol for mass in physics equations.

Flashcard 28: How is impulse related to momentum?

Answer: Impulse equals change in momentum. The impulse-momentum theorem connects these quantities.

Flashcard 29: What is the effect of an inelastic collision on the total kinetic energy?

Answer: Total kinetic energy decreases. Some kinetic energy converts to other forms during collision.

Flashcard 30: What is the term for the rate of change of momentum?

Answer: Force. Newton's second law: $F = dp/dt$.

Flashcard 31: What is the momentum of a 5 kg object moving at 10 m/s?

Answer: 50 kg·m/s. Using $p = mv$: $5 × 10 = 50$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 32: Determine the momentum of a 2 kg object moving at -3 m/s.

Answer: -6 kg·m/s. Negative velocity gives negative momentum: $2 × (-3)$.

Flashcard 33: Which law of motion is associated with momentum conservation?

Answer: Newton's Third Law. Equal and opposite forces result in momentum conservation.

Flashcard 34: Calculate the change in momentum for a 2 kg ball accelerating from 3 m/s to 7 m/s.

Answer: 8 kg·m/s. Change: $2(7) - 2(3) = 14 - 6 = 8$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 35: What quantity is conserved in all types of collisions?

Answer: Momentum. Universal conservation law for all collision scenarios.

Flashcard 36: Find the final velocity of a 3 kg object with 9 kg·m/s momentum.

Answer: 3 m/s. Using $v = p/m$: $9/3 = 3$ m/s.

Flashcard 37: How does doubling the mass of an object affect its momentum, assuming constant velocity?

Answer: Momentum doubles. Momentum is proportional to mass at constant velocity.

Flashcard 38: Find the final velocity of a 3 kg object with 9 kg·m/s momentum.

Answer: 3 m/s. Using $v = p/m$: $9/3 = 3$ m/s.

Flashcard 39: Determine the momentum of a 2 kg object moving at -3 m/s.

Answer: -6 kg·m/s. Negative velocity gives negative momentum: $2 × (-3)$.

Flashcard 40: What is the impulse experienced by an object?

Answer: Change in momentum. Impulse measures how momentum changes over time.

Flashcard 41: For a perfectly inelastic collision, what happens to the objects?

Answer: They stick together. Objects combine and move together with shared velocity.

Flashcard 42: What kind of system is required for momentum conservation?

Answer: Isolated system. No external forces acting on the system are required.

Flashcard 43: What is the momentum of a stationary object?

Answer: 0 kg·m/s. Zero velocity means zero momentum since $p = mv$.

Flashcard 44: Choose the term for momentum per unit mass.

Answer: Velocity. Momentum divided by mass equals velocity ($p/m = v$).

Flashcard 45: What is the principle of conservation of linear momentum?

Answer: Total momentum remains constant in an isolated system. A fundamental law stating momentum is conserved without external forces.

Flashcard 46: What is the effect of external forces on a system's momentum?

Answer: It can change the momentum. External forces can alter the system's total momentum.

Flashcard 47: How does momentum differ from kinetic energy?

Answer: Momentum is a vector; kinetic energy is a scalar. Momentum has direction; kinetic energy is always positive.

Flashcard 48: Choose the term for momentum per unit mass.

Answer: Velocity. Momentum divided by mass equals velocity ($p/m = v$).

Flashcard 49: Identify the type of collision where kinetic energy is not conserved.

Answer: Inelastic collision. Momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is lost.

Flashcard 50: What is the impulse on a 10 kg object with a velocity change from 0 to 5 m/s?

Answer: 50 kg·m/s. Change in momentum: $10(5) - 10(0) = 50$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 51: What is the momentum of a stationary object?

Answer: 0 kg·m/s. Zero velocity means zero momentum since $p = mv$.

Flashcard 52: Identify the type of collision where kinetic energy is conserved.

Answer: Elastic collision. Both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved in this collision type.

Flashcard 53: What is the impulse experienced by an object?

Answer: Change in momentum. Impulse measures how momentum changes over time.

Flashcard 54: In a closed system, what can be said about the momentum before and after a collision?

Answer: Momentum before equals momentum after. Conservation law requires momentum equality before and after.

Flashcard 55: Determine the velocity change if a 4 kg object receives an impulse of 16 kg·m/s.

Answer: 4 m/s. Impulse equals change in momentum: $16/4 = 4$ m/s change.

Flashcard 56: Which principle states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant?

Answer: Conservation of momentum. Fundamental principle stating momentum is conserved in isolated systems.

Flashcard 57: Which principle states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant?

Answer: Conservation of momentum. Fundamental principle stating momentum is conserved in isolated systems.

Flashcard 58: Calculate the momentum of a 10 kg object at rest.

Answer: 0 kg·m/s. At rest means velocity is zero, so momentum is zero.

Flashcard 59: What happens to momentum when no external forces act on a system?

Answer: Momentum remains constant. No external forces means no change in total momentum.

Flashcard 60: What is the unit of momentum in the SI system?

Answer: Kilogram meter per second (kg·m/s). Derived from mass (kg) times velocity (m/s).

Flashcard 61: What does the variable $p$ represent in the momentum formula?

Answer: Momentum. Standard physics notation for momentum in equations.

Flashcard 62: If an object's velocity doubles, what happens to its momentum?

Answer: Momentum doubles. Momentum is proportional to velocity at constant mass.

Flashcard 63: What is the momentum of a 5 kg object moving at 10 m/s?

Answer: 50 kg·m/s. Using $p = mv$: $5 × 10 = 50$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 64: Calculate the change in momentum for a 2 kg ball accelerating from 3 m/s to 7 m/s.

Answer: 8 kg·m/s. Change: $2(7) - 2(3) = 14 - 6 = 8$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 65: Identify the type of collision where kinetic energy is not conserved.

Answer: Inelastic collision. Momentum is conserved but kinetic energy is lost.

Flashcard 66: When two objects collide, how is total momentum calculated?

Answer: Sum of individual momenta before collision equals sum after. Conservation law: initial total momentum equals final total momentum.

Flashcard 67: What is the unit of momentum in the SI system?

Answer: Kilogram meter per second (kg·m/s). Derived from mass (kg) times velocity (m/s).

Flashcard 68: How does momentum differ from kinetic energy?

Answer: Momentum is a vector; kinetic energy is a scalar. Momentum has direction; kinetic energy is always positive.

Flashcard 69: In which type of collision is momentum conserved?

Answer: All types of collisions. Momentum conservation is universal for all collision types.

Flashcard 70: What is the term for the rate of change of momentum?

Answer: Force. Newton's second law: $F = dp/dt$.

Flashcard 71: What is the final velocity of two 5 kg objects colliding and sticking together if one moves at 4 m/s?

Answer: 2 m/s. Using conservation: $(5)(4) + (5)(0) = (10)v$, so $v = 2$ m/s.

Flashcard 72: Identify the variable representing mass in momentum equations.

Answer: $m$. Standard symbol for mass in physics equations.

Flashcard 73: What is the result of an elastic collision in terms of momentum?

Answer: Momentum is conserved. Momentum conservation applies to all collision types.

Flashcard 74: What term describes the product of force and time?

Answer: Impulse. Force applied over time creates impulse.

Flashcard 75: State the formula for linear momentum.

Answer: $p = mv$. The product of mass and velocity defines momentum.

Flashcard 76: In which type of collision is momentum conserved?

Answer: All types of collisions. Momentum conservation is universal for all collision types.