- #1
gibberingmouther
- 120
- 15
Homework Statement
the rate of change of the total momentum in a system with respect to time is zero.
thus, my textbook says, the total momentum of that system is constant.
i'd like to understand how one implies the other if anyone could give me a conceptual explanation? i understand the steps to get the derivative of total momentum equation. i just don't have a good grasp on how that implies that the total momentum of the system is constant.
Homework Equations
dP/dt = 0 (where P is a vector quantity and is the total momentum of a system)
The Attempt at a Solution
integrate dP/dt = 0 and you get P = C, a constant. that is one way to get the answer but i am not satisfied. i want a better explanation.