Is Momentum Conserved in Both Axes During a Projectile Explosion?

AI Thread Summary
Momentum is conserved in both the horizontal and vertical axes during a projectile explosion, particularly when considering the moment of the explosion itself. While gravity acts on the projectile and its fragments, its influence can be negligible compared to the explosive forces at the moment of the explosion. This allows for the assumption that momentum conservation applies during the short duration of the explosion. However, gravity will affect the overall momentum before and after the explosion. Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that momentum conservation holds true at the peak of a projectile's trajectory during an explosion.
Toranc3
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Homework Statement


Is momentum conserved in a projectile? I was a bit confused with this. Would it be conserved only horizontally? What if it explodes at its max height?

Homework Equations

mv=mv2

The Attempt at a Solution

 
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Toranc3 said:

Homework Statement


Is momentum conserved in a projectile? I was a bit confused with this. Would it be conserved only horizontally? What if it explodes at its max height?

Homework Equations




mv=mv2

The Attempt at a Solution


What are your thoughts? What can change momentum?
 
berkeman said:
What are your thoughts? What can change momentum?
ok so let's say some mass at the top of a projectile explodes. The external force on my system(mass) is the force of gravity. During the explosion though, the force of gravity is small enough to ignore it(compared to the explosion). So momentum is conserved in the x and in the y, starting at the top of a projectile. Is it correct to say that?
 
Toranc3 said:
ok so let's say some mass at the top of a projectile explodes. The external force on my system(mass) is the force of gravity. During the explosion though, the force of gravity is small enough to ignore it(compared to the explosion). So momentum is conserved in the x and in the y, starting at the top of a projectile. Is it correct to say that?

Gravity is acting on the projectile and the resulting fragments, so that influences the momentum in the y direction both before and after the explosion.
 
Toranc3 said:
ok so let's say some mass at the top of a projectile explodes. The external force on my system(mass) is the force of gravity. During the explosion though, the force of gravity is small enough to ignore it(compared to the explosion). So momentum is conserved in the x and in the y, starting at the top of a projectile. Is it correct to say that?
It's generally a good assumption, considering that the explosive forces are high and short-lived, that other forces such as gravity can be ignored during the explosion. So momentum is conserved during the collision.
 
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