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Triangulum
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Homework Statement
When is Translational Momentum Conserved and when is Angular Momentum Conserved?
Translational momentum is a physical quantity that describes the amount of motion an object has, taking into account both its mass and velocity. It is often referred to as simply "momentum".
Translational momentum is conserved in a closed system, meaning that the total momentum of all objects in the system remains constant. This means that if one object gains momentum, another object in the system must lose an equal amount of momentum.
A classic example of translational momentum conservation is a game of pool. When the cue ball strikes the other balls on the table, the total momentum of the system remains the same. The cue ball loses momentum while the other balls gain momentum, resulting in the same overall momentum before and after the collision.
In a closed system, external forces do not affect the conservation of translational momentum. This is known as the law of conservation of momentum, which states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant in the absence of external forces.
Translational momentum conservation is important because it is a fundamental law of physics that helps us understand and predict the motion of objects. It allows us to analyze and explain the outcomes of various physical interactions, from simple collisions to more complex systems.