If a particle and a system have zero momentum

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SUMMARY

A particle with zero momentum must have zero velocity, leading to zero kinetic energy, as mass cannot be zero. In contrast, a system of particles can possess zero momentum while individual particles may still exhibit momentum, such as vibrations within a lattice structure. This distinction highlights the difference between the momentum of individual particles and the collective momentum of a system.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of classical mechanics principles
  • Familiarity with momentum and kinetic energy concepts
  • Knowledge of particle systems and interactions
  • Basic grasp of lattice vibrations in solid-state physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the relationship between momentum and kinetic energy in classical mechanics
  • Study the behavior of particles in a lattice and their vibrational modes
  • Investigate systems with zero net momentum and their implications in physics
  • Learn about conservation laws in closed systems
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Is it true that they both must also have zero kinetic energy?
 
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If we are talking of one particle, and it has zero momentum, it must have zero velocity (mass cannot be zero), and so its kinetic energy is zero.
If a system of particles has zero momentum, anyone particle in the system may still have momentum, say ,if it is vibrating in a lattice, but the system as a whole does not.
 

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