Momentum and Collisions

Momentum is the quantity of motion an object has, calculated as its mass multiplied by its velocity. In collisions, momentum helps us understand how objects interact. According to the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum before a collision is equal to the total momentum after, assuming no external forces act. This means that when two objects collide, like cars in an accident, they exchange momentum, affecting their speeds and directions. Newtonian mechanics provides the framework to analyze these interactions, allowing us to predict outcomes based on the forces and masses involved.