Conservation of momentum is a fundamental principle in physics that states that the total momentum of a system is conserved in a closed system, meaning that the total momentum remains constant before and after any interaction or collision.
In a collision, the total momentum of the system before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. This means that the sum of the momentums of all objects involved in the collision remains the same.
The formula for conservation of momentum is:
M1V1 + M2V2 = M1V1' + M2V2',
where M is mass and V is velocity.
Yes, conservation of momentum applies to both elastic and inelastic collisions. In an elastic collision, the total kinetic energy is conserved in addition to momentum, while in an inelastic collision, some kinetic energy is lost as heat or sound, but momentum is still conserved.
Conservation of momentum has many real-life applications, including car crashes, billiard balls colliding, and rocket propulsion. This principle is also used in the design of airbags and bumper systems in cars to reduce the impact force during a collision.