Conservation of Momentum on Inclined and Flat Surfaces

AI Thread Summary
Momentum is not conserved for a cart on an incline or a flat surface when pushed, as gravity acts as an external force on the cart. While gravity is a conservative force in a broader system, it affects the cart's momentum differently based on its position. On an incline, the cart experiences a change in velocity due to gravitational acceleration, leading to a higher final velocity compared to a flat surface. The total momentum of the cart and the Earth is conserved, but not the momentum of the cart alone. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for grasping momentum conservation principles in physics.
EverythingIsACircle
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Would momentum be conserved on a cart if in one situation it is on an incline and the other it is on a flat surface(assuming it is pushed)

I am confused because I thought that since gravity is an internal force, it is a conservative force. But then the final velocity of the cart would be higher. Please help I'm in high school who's struggling in physics
 
Physics news on Phys.org
EverythingIsACircle said:
I am confused because I thought that since gravity is an internal force, it is a conservative force.
As far as the cart is concerned, gravity is an external force. Momentum of the cart will not be conserved. (Total momentum of the cart plus incline/earth will be conserved. In that system, gravity is an internal force.)
 

Thread '1:1 versus 2:1 Mechanical Advantage debate'

The rope is tied into the person (the load of 200 pounds) and the rope goes up from the person to a fixed pulley and back down to his hands. He hauls the rope to suspend himself in the air. What is the mechanical advantage of the system? The person will indeed only have to lift half of his body weight (roughly 100 pounds) because he now lessened the load by that same amount. This APPEARS to be a 2:1 because he can hold himself with half the force, but my question is: is that mechanical...
View full post »

Thread 'Newton's first law?'

Some physics textbook writer told me that Newton's first law applies only on bodies that feel no interactions at all. He said that if a body is on rest or moves in constant velocity, there is no external force acting on it. But I have heard another form of the law that says the net force acting on a body must be zero. This means there is interactions involved after all. So which one is correct?
View full post »
Thread 'Beam on an inclined plane'

Thread 'Beam on an inclined plane'

Hello! I have a question regarding a beam on an inclined plane. I was considering a beam resting on two supports attached to an inclined plane. I was almost sure that the lower support must be more loaded. My imagination about this problem is shown in the picture below. Here is how I wrote the condition of equilibrium forces: $$ \begin{cases} F_{g\parallel}=F_{t1}+F_{t2}, \\ F_{g\perp}=F_{r1}+F_{r2} \end{cases}. $$ On the other hand...
View full post »

Similar threads

B Conservation of momentum and conservation of energy details
Replies
30
Views
2K
I Conservation of angular momentum during collisions
Replies
3
Views
3K
Conceptual questions about Angular Momentum Conservation and torque
Replies
2
Views
2K
Conservation of angular momentum and its counterpart for linear momentum
Replies
13
Views
3K
B Questions about momentum and force as well as normal force/friction
Replies
35
Views
3K
I A rod that falls while rotating from the end of a table
Replies
2
Views
1K
Conservation of linear momentum when wheels are included
Replies
11
Views
3K
B The physics of flywheel launchers (like tennis ball shooters)
2
Replies
60
Views
4K
Momentum of a System and External Forces
Replies
5
Views
1K
Conservation of linear momentum in this system
Replies
4
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top