MathLiveConservation of momentum
States that the total momentum of an isolated system stays the same over time, so the momentum before an interaction equals the momentum after it. It is widely used to analyse collisions and explosions.
\sum_{i} \vec{p}_{i,\mathrm{before}} = \sum_{i} \vec{p}_{i,\mathrm{after}}What the symbols mean
| momentum of object i before the interaction, in kg·m/s | |
| momentum of object i after the interaction, in kg·m/s | |
| index labelling the objects in the isolated system |
About this formula
- FieldPhysics
- TopicClassical mechanics
- LevelHigh school
- Also calledlaw of conservation of linear momentum, momentum conservation, conservation of linear momentum, isolated system momentum, total momentum before and after collision, collision momentum conservation
- SourceWikidata Q2305665
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