What happened to the total momentum in a system of two interacting objects when a net force is exerted upon the system?
The total momentum can either increase or decrease
The total momentum Increases
The total momentum Is conserved
The total momentum Decreases
The total momentum is conserved.
The total momentum in a system of two interacting objects remains constant or is conserved when a net force is exerted upon the system. This is known as the principle of conservation of momentum. Therefore, the correct answer is "The total momentum is conserved."
When a net force is exerted upon a system of two interacting objects, the total momentum of the system can either increase, decrease, or remain conserved. The change in total momentum depends on the relative magnitudes and directions of the individual momenta of the objects.
To determine what happens to the total momentum, we need to understand the concept of momentum and the principle of conservation of momentum. Momentum is a vector quantity that represents the motion of an object and is calculated by multiplying an object's mass by its velocity.
According to the principle of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of an isolated system remains constant if there are no external forces acting on it. This means that in the absence of external forces, the total momentum before an event is equal to the total momentum after the event. This principle comes from Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
However, when a net force (an external force) is exerted upon a system of two interacting objects, the principle of conservation of momentum may not hold true. The net force causes an acceleration in the system, leading to changes in the individual momenta of the objects.
If the objects are moving in the same direction, applying a net force will result in an increase in the total momentum of the system. This is because the net force adds to the individual momenta of the objects, resulting in a higher total momentum.
On the other hand, if the objects are moving in opposite directions, applying a net force will cause a decrease in the total momentum of the system. The net force subtracts from the individual momenta of the objects, leading to a lower total momentum.
Therefore, when a net force is exerted upon a system of two interacting objects, the total momentum can either increase, decrease, or remain conserved, depending on the relative magnitudes and directions of the individual momenta of the objects.