AP Physics 1 Flashcards: Momentum

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 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: What is the momentum of a 2 kg object at rest?

Answer: 0 kg·m/s. Zero velocity means zero momentum regardless of mass.

Flashcard 2: How does momentum change if velocity doubles and mass stays constant?

Answer: Momentum doubles. Momentum is directly proportional to velocity.

Flashcard 3: Calculate the momentum of a 3 kg object traveling at 4 m/s.

Answer: $p = 12$ kg·m/s. Using $p = mv = 3×4 = 12$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 4: Identify the variable representing impulse.

Answer: Impulse is represented by $J$. Standard physics notation for impulse.

Flashcard 5: What is the momentum change if a 3 kg object accelerates from 0 to 3 m/s?

Answer: 9 kg·m/s. Change is $3×3 - 3×0 = 9$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 6: How does friction affect momentum in a system?

Answer: Friction can reduce momentum. Friction is an external force that affects momentum.

Flashcard 7: If a system has two objects at rest, what is the total momentum?

Answer: 0 kg·m/s. Rest means zero velocity for both objects.

Flashcard 8: Determine the change in momentum for a 4 kg object increasing speed from 2 m/s to 5 m/s.

Answer: 12 kg·m/s. Change is $4×5 - 4×2 = 20 - 8 = 12$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 9: Find momentum if mass is 7 kg and velocity is 3 m/s.

Answer: $p = 21$ kg·m/s. Using $p = mv = 7×3 = 21$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 10: What is the effect on momentum if mass is halved and velocity is doubled?

Answer: Momentum stays the same. The mass and velocity changes cancel out.

Flashcard 11: State the relationship between force and change in momentum.

Answer: Force equals the rate of change of momentum. This is Newton's second law in momentum form.

Flashcard 12: Find the velocity if momentum is 30 kg·m/s and mass is 5 kg.

Answer: $v = 6$ m/s. Rearranging $p = mv$ gives $v = p/m = 30/5$.

Flashcard 13: What is the formula for impulse?

Answer: $J = F \times \triangle t$. Force multiplied by time interval gives impulse.

Flashcard 14: What is the effect on momentum if mass is halved and velocity is doubled?

Answer: Momentum stays the same. The mass and velocity changes cancel out.

Flashcard 15: What is the impulse if a force of 6 N acts for 3 s?

Answer: $J = 18$ Ns. Using $J = F×\Delta t = 6×3 = 18$ Ns.

Flashcard 16: Identify the variable for momentum in equations.

Answer: Momentum is represented by $p$. Standard physics notation for momentum.

Flashcard 17: How does momentum change if mass doubles and velocity stays constant?

Answer: Momentum doubles. Momentum is directly proportional to mass.

Flashcard 18: Calculate momentum for a 4 kg object at 5 m/s.

Answer: $p = 20$ kg·m/s. Using $p = mv = 4×5 = 20$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 19: Find momentum if mass is 7 kg and velocity is 3 m/s.

Answer: $p = 21$ kg·m/s. Using $p = mv = 7×3 = 21$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 20: What is conserved in an elastic collision?

Answer: Both momentum and kinetic energy. These are the two conserved quantities in elastic collisions.

Flashcard 21: If momentum is 20 kg·m/s and velocity is 4 m/s, find the mass.

Answer: $m = 5$ kg. Rearranging $p = mv$ gives $m = p/v = 20/4$.

Flashcard 22: What is the resulting force if a 15 Ns impulse occurs over 3 s?

Answer: $F = 5$ N. Rearranging $J = F×\Delta t$ gives $F = J/\Delta t = 15/3$.

Flashcard 23: Define momentum.

Answer: Momentum is the product of mass and velocity. This definition follows directly from $p = mv$.

Flashcard 24: State the unit for impulse.

Answer: Newton second (Ns). Newton second is equivalent to kg·m/s.

Flashcard 25: Identify the variable representing impulse.

Answer: Impulse is represented by $J$. Standard physics notation for impulse.

Flashcard 26: What is the momentum change if a 3 kg object accelerates from 0 to 3 m/s?

Answer: 9 kg·m/s. Change is $3×3 - 3×0 = 9$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 27: How does friction affect momentum in a system?

Answer: Friction can reduce momentum. Friction is an external force that affects momentum.

Flashcard 28: If a system has two objects at rest, what is the total momentum?

Answer: 0 kg·m/s. Rest means zero velocity for both objects.

Flashcard 29: Determine the change in momentum for a 4 kg object increasing speed from 2 m/s to 5 m/s.

Answer: 12 kg·m/s. Change is $4×5 - 4×2 = 20 - 8 = 12$ kg·m/s.

Flashcard 30: What is the momentum of a 2 kg object at rest?

Answer: 0 kg·m/s. Zero velocity means zero momentum regardless of mass.