Question

object a strikes object b. momentum of object b increases. what happens to the momentum of object a?

Answer 1

Depends on the type of collision

Answer 2

Ok Thanks

Answer 3

no it does not depend on the type of collision..

the conservation of momentum states.. TOTAL INITIAL MOMENTUM = TOTAL FINAL MOMENTUM for any collision

so if after the collision the momentum of a has INCREASED.. what would happen to momentum of b??

its like i and you have some money.. you have 50 bucks and i got say 100 bucks.. since we are going to transact money only between ourselves.. the total money will always be 150..

so now if i say that after transaction your money has increased (is more than 50).. what can you say about my money?? decreased (less than 100) or increased? (more than 100)??

Answer 4

You can't always conserve momentum, there has to be specific standards in order to apply...

Answer 5

momentum is always conserved buddy.. unless you have dissipative forces.. like friction or drag force being involved.. and in such questions.. its almost understood that we don't consider such forces!

Answer 6

Momentum is only conserved if the sum of the external forces acting on the system vanish..if the sum of the external forces on the system dont vanish then momentum is not conserved. this is trivial to prove using newton's 3rd law

Answer 7

yea.. well .. its always for an isolated system :P... so isolated means.. its isolated from surrounding :P

Answer 8

I don't know if you can assume an isolated system if someone says "object A hits object B"

Answer 9

hmm ok ok.. fine :P