Conservation of Momentum (Grade 12 NSC Matric Physical Sciences): Flashcards

Physical configuration of particles/objects we study

System with no external forces and no matter exchange

Force acting on system objects from outside the system

Total momentum of isolated system is constant

Internal forces are Newton's 3rd law pairs that cancel

$p_T = p_1 + p_2 + p_3 + ... + p_n$

Has both magnitude and direction

Cancel out due to Newton's third law

Conservation of momentum

Total momentum before equals total momentum after