Using Vectors to describe momentum
1. Why is velocity considered a vector quantity?
2. What components do the arrows on a vector represent?
3. How do you add vectors for vector sum?
4. What is the difference between an elastic and inelastic collision?
5. How is conservation of momentum useful in a traffic accident?
1. Velocity is considered a vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction. It describes the speed and the direction of motion of an object.
2. The components of a vector are typically represented by arrows. The arrowhead represents the direction of the vector, and the length of the arrow represents the magnitude of the vector.
3. To add vectors for the vector sum, you can use the head-to-tail method. Essentially, you place the tail of one vector at the head of the previous vector, and then draw the resulting vector from the tail of the first vector to the head of the last vector.
4. In an elastic collision, both kinetic energy and momentum are conserved. This means that the objects involved bounce off each other without any loss of energy. In an inelastic collision, only momentum is conserved, but there is a loss of kinetic energy as the objects stick together or deform.
5. Conservation of momentum is useful in a traffic accident because the total momentum of the system (the vehicles involved in the collision) should remain constant before and after the collision, provided no external forces act on the system. This principle can be used to analyze the forces and velocities involved in the accident and help determine who was at fault or how the accident occurred.