Momentum conservation in collisions is a fundamental concept in physics that states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant during a collision. This means that the total momentum of all objects involved in the collision before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision.
Momentum is conserved in collisions because of Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that when two objects collide, the force exerted by one object on the other is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force exerted by the second object on the first. As a result, the total momentum of the system remains constant.
Elastic collisions and inelastic collisions both conserve momentum. In elastic collisions, the total kinetic energy of the system is also conserved, while in inelastic collisions, some kinetic energy is lost due to the deformation or breaking of objects. However, in both types of collisions, the total momentum of the system remains constant.
No, momentum is not conserved in all types of collisions. If external forces are present, such as friction or air resistance, the total momentum of the system may not be conserved. This is because external forces can change the momentum of the objects involved in the collision.
In an explosion, the total momentum of the system is conserved. This is because the initial momentum of the system is zero, and after the explosion, the momenta of the individual fragments of the explosion cancel out, resulting in a total momentum of zero. This conservation of momentum can be seen in the recoil of a gun when a bullet is fired.