Conservation of momentum is a fundamental principle in physics that states that the total momentum of a system remains constant unless acted upon by an external force. In other words, in a closed system, the total momentum before an event is equal to the total momentum after the event.
Quantity of motion, also known as momentum, is a measure of an object's motion. It is calculated by multiplying an object's mass by its velocity. The greater the momentum, the harder it is to stop the object's motion.
One example of conservation of momentum is a billiard game. When a cue ball strikes a stationary ball, the cue ball's momentum is transferred to the stationary ball, causing it to move. However, the total momentum of the system (cue ball and stationary ball) remains constant.
Conservation of momentum applies to everyday life in many ways. For example, when riding a bicycle, the wheels have a rotational momentum that helps to keep the bike balanced and moving forward. When a car brakes suddenly, the passengers are pushed forward due to the conservation of momentum.
When two objects with different masses collide, the object with the greater mass will experience a smaller change in velocity compared to the smaller object. This is because the momentum of the smaller object is transferred to the larger object, resulting in a smaller change in velocity but equal change in momentum for both objects.