Is Momentum Conserved in a Colliding System with Gravity?

AI Thread Summary
Momentum is conserved in a system when no external forces act on it, even when gravity is involved during a collision. In the discussed scenario, a mass M collides elastically with an inclined plane of mass 3M, and the short duration of the collision allows for the assumption that external forces like gravity can be neglected. The impulse approximation supports this view, indicating that momentum is conserved in both the X and Y directions before and after the collision. The normal force during the impact is considered an external force if the dropped mass is treated separately, but it is internal if both masses are part of the same system. Understanding the definitions of internal and external forces is crucial for analyzing momentum conservation in such collisions.
Dweirdo
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This is a conceptional problem I'm dealing with.
when no external forces act on a system momentum is conserved, right?
now when gravity acts on a system, and there is a collusion(elastic), let's say a mass M and an inclined plane(not attached to the ground) of mass 3M, while M is dropped from certain height and it hits the inclined plane(which causes the plane to move and M to bounce)
now the duration of the collusion is so small, so before and after it the momentum is conserved both in the X direction and the Y direction in my opinion, cause although there was a force acting during the collusion, it's effect is so neglect-able,or am I wrong??
I would like to have an explanation,
Thanks in advanced.
Dw
 
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Dweirdo said:
This is a conceptional problem I'm dealing with.
when no external forces act on a system momentum is conserved, right?
Right. Whenever the net external force is zero, momentum is conserved.
now when gravity acts on a system, and there is a collusion(elastic), let's say a mass M and an inclined plane(not attached to the ground) of mass 3M, while M is dropped from certain height and it hits the inclined plane(which causes the plane to move and M to bounce)
now the duration of the collusion is so small, so before and after it the momentum is conserved both in the X direction and the Y direction in my opinion, cause although there was a force acting during the collusion, it's effect is so neglect-able,or am I wrong??
Right! Usually one can assume that the collision is of such short duration, that all other forces (like gravity) can be ignored. That's called the "impulse approximation".
 
Oh great,
one more thing,
is the Normal force(during impact) is also an external force?
I've just asked some one and he said it is, but It doesn't work well for me, so..is that so?

Thank You so much Al!
 
Normal force is external if you are considering the dropped mass. It is an internal force if you consider both masses. The normal force on the inclined plane by the table is external; however, it's balanced by Mg.
 
Dweirdo said:
is the Normal force(during impact) is also an external force?
It depends on how you define the system. The normal force is a contact force between two objects. As long as both objects are part of the same system, then any contact force between them is an internal force as far as that system goes.
 
Thank You!
 

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