Conservation (momentum and ke)

In summary, in a perfectly elastic collision between two atoms where no bonding takes place, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. The kinetic energy is not conserved throughout the process, but it is the same at the beginning and end if the particles are not interacting. The total energy is conserved, with the kinetic energy being transferred to a repulsive field and then back to kinetic energy during the collision. This is similar to the process in a mass-spring oscillator.
  • #1
Infrasound
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When two atoms collide, and no bonding takes place, i.e. a perfectly elastic collision, would both momentum and kinetic energy be conserved?
 
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  • #2
Infrasound said:
i.e. a perfectly elastic collision
Well, yes. That's the definition of an elastic collision.
 
  • #3
The kinetic energy is not conserved throughout the process like the momentum, but it is the same at t=-infinity and t=infinity if the two particles are not interacting at those "moments" (i.e. long before and long after the collision).

The total energy is conserved throughout the collision, though.
 
  • #4
In between the end points (but most especially right around the collision) the kinetic energy is transferred the the repulsive field pushing the atoms apart. This field momentarily stores the energy and then by pushing on the atoms, the energy is delivered back as kinetic again.

This is also what happens in a mass-spring oscillator.
 
  • #5


Yes, both momentum and kinetic energy would be conserved in a perfectly elastic collision between two atoms. This means that the total momentum and kinetic energy of the system before the collision will be equal to the total momentum and kinetic energy after the collision. This is due to the fact that in an elastic collision, there is no loss of energy to other forms such as heat or sound, and no external forces are acting on the system. Therefore, the total energy and momentum must remain constant. This principle is fundamental in understanding the behavior of particles in collisions and is important in many fields of science, including physics and chemistry.
 

1. What is conservation of momentum?

The law of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant over time. This means that in a collision or interaction between objects, the total momentum of the objects before and after the collision is the same.

2. How is conservation of momentum related to Newton's third law?

Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In terms of conservation of momentum, this means that the total momentum of a system is conserved because the forces between objects in a closed system are equal and opposite, resulting in no change in the total momentum.

3. What is the formula for calculating momentum?

Momentum is calculated by multiplying an object's mass by its velocity. The formula is: momentum (p) = mass (m) x velocity (v). It is represented by the unit kg*m/s.

4. What is the difference between conservation of momentum and conservation of kinetic energy?

Conservation of momentum and conservation of kinetic energy are two separate principles. Conservation of momentum only applies to collisions or interactions between objects, while conservation of kinetic energy applies to any type of energy transfer or conversion. Additionally, conservation of momentum focuses on the total momentum of a system, while conservation of kinetic energy focuses on the total kinetic energy of a system.

5. Can conservation of momentum be violated?

No, conservation of momentum is a fundamental law of physics and has been experimentally proven to hold true in all interactions between objects. It is a universal principle that cannot be violated in any scenario.

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