Understanding conservation of momentum

[jd12345]

Is conservation of momentum a fundamental thing? For example :- conservation of energy is basic, its fundamental, it has no answer of why it is conserved. Its just a rule of nature

So in the same way, is conservation of momentum a rule of nature or does it have a deeper reason?
And Newtons laws are basically derived from conservation of momentum right?

 

[Khashishi]

It sure does have a deeper meaning. Conservation of momentum can be derived from translational symmetry of the universe, based on Noether's theorem. Translational symmetry means that the laws of physics at one point in space are the same as the laws of physics at another point in space. This is a cosmological principle-- an assumption that we are not at a special place in the universe, and every place in the universe is equally special. Noether's theorem states that for every symmetry, you get a conserved quantity having to do with motion along the direction of symmetry. We also get conservation of angular momentum from rotational symmetry of the universe (physics don't depend on which way you are facing) and conservation of energy from time translation symmetry. (It's harder to explain why energy is motion in time.)