key term - Conservation of Linear Momentum

Definition

The conservation of linear momentum states that the total momentum of a system remains constant if no external forces act on it. In other words, in the absence of external forces, the total momentum before an event is equal to the total momentum after the event.

Related terms

External Force: An external force is any force that acts on an object from outside its system. It can change an object's velocity and momentum.

Linear Momentum:

Linear momentum is defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity. It represents how difficult it is to stop or change the motion of an object.

Impulse:

Impulse is defined as the change in linear momentum experienced by an object when a force acts upon it for a certain amount of time. It can be calculated by multiplying force and time.