two objects collide when sliding on a fricitonless horizontal surface. Which quantity is conserved during their collision?
a) velocity
b) momentum of both objects
c)energy
d) momentum of each object
isn't c) or b) correct? I really think it's c)
total momentum is conserved, b. Energy is usually lost in heat and change in entropy.
The correct answer is b) momentum of both objects.
During a collision, the total momentum of a system is conserved if there are no external forces acting on the objects. This principle is known as the law of conservation of momentum.
Momentum, defined as the product of an object's mass and velocity, is conserved in a collision, regardless of the presence of friction or the type of surface involved.
On a frictionless horizontal surface, there are no external forces acting on the objects during the collision. Therefore, the total initial momentum of the two objects will be equal to the total final momentum after the collision. This means that the momentum of each object individually may change, but the sum of their momenta will remain constant.
Energy (option c) is not conserved during the collision, as some energy may be transformed into other forms, such as heat or sound, due to deformations or other factors.
So, in this scenario, the quantity that is conserved during the collision is the momentum of both objects (option b).