The law of conservation of momentum states that in a closed system, the total momentum of all objects before a collision or interaction is equal to the total momentum after the collision or interaction.
Momentum is calculated by multiplying an object's mass by its velocity. The formula for momentum is: p = m * v, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity.
An example of a conservation of momentum problem is a billiard ball collision. If two billiard balls collide on a frictionless surface, the total momentum before the collision will be equal to the total momentum after the collision.
In an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. In an inelastic collision, only momentum is conserved and some kinetic energy is lost in the form of heat or sound.
Conservation of momentum is a direct result of Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In a closed system, the total momentum before and after a collision must be equal, in accordance with this law.