# Is momentum conserved?

by azizlwl
Tags: conserved, momentum
 P: 963 In a ballistic pendulum test, the mv is added to the system and that total remains constant over time. This what conservation of Momentum states. But at the end of the swing velocity is zero. Thus no momentum. What is conserved here? As in energy total energy always remains the same. In momentum its nor true even in ordinary motion with resistance, the velocity decreases thus momentum. To me it is just a Law of Union/Separation. After Union/Separation its not use/applicable.
 P: 887 The momentum is transferred into the stand and then into the earth.
 P: 2 Thank you aziz and khashishi ,I agree with both of your answers with what everyone may know that momentum is conserved.With a rule that states that "momentum before is equal to momentum after". If anyone is inquiring about energy then the rules that YES energy is also conserved but in a different form.
 P: 2 Is momentum conserved? YES it is.The rules states that momentum before is equal to momentum after.√
 P: 963 Thank you. I mean here i see the Conservation of Momentum only applies to union and separation of items. In other instances other laws apply. When a body moves, it follows the Newton's first Law. When a body moves and changes direction or/and magnitude, Newton 2nd law is used and sometimes we use KE and PE, conservation of energy. Thus COM only applies only JUST before the union/separation and JUST after that. Conservation law should be at any instances/places.
 Math Emeritus Sci Advisor Thanks PF Gold P: 39,495 Conservation of momentum holds only as long as there is no "exernal" force. The force of gravity is an external force.
P: 789
 Quote by Khashishi The momentum is transferred into the stand and then into the earth.
Yes. As the pendulum rocks back and forth, the Earth rocks back and forth in the opposite direction. Momentum is always conserved, at all times.
P: 963
 Quote by HallsofIvy Conservation of momentum holds only as long as there is no "exernal" force. The force of gravity is an external force.
Thank you
I agree that with no external force, means there's no change in momentum. Total sum of momentum remains constant.
I still cannot figure out why we need conservation of momentum in solving eg. ballistic pendulum.
Initial mv=final mv then we get velocity. Then KE to PE.
Why not just KE incoming bullet to PE without resorting to COM if we assume no energy expended in the process(I've been making this error frequently). Conservation of energy is intuitively easy for accept.
P: 789
 Quote by azizlwl Thank you I agree that with no external force, means there's no change in momentum. Total sum of momentum remains constant. I still cannot figure out why we need conservation of momentum in solving eg. ballistic pendulum. Initial mv=final mv then we get velocity. Then KE to PE. Why not just KE incoming bullet to PE without resorting to COM if we assume no energy expended in the process(I've been making this error frequently). Conservation of energy is intuitively easy for accept.
But a lot of energy is expended in the process. When the bullet collides with the pendulum, it sticks to the pendulum, and that's an inelastic collision. Kinetic energy is not conserved. Most of the kinetic energy of the bullet is turned into heat and a little of it is turned into sound.
 P: 963 ok now i understand why we have to resort to COM. In a collision, $mv_{in}=mv_{out}$ where no external forces involve. $KE_{in}\geq KE_{out}$ So applying COM is the most ideal transformation for a collision.

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