In billiards (pool) there is a collision between the cue ball (white) and all the other balls on the break. Before the collision
, only the cue ball is moving. After the collision, all the balls have velocity. Which statement is true about the momentum before and after the collision? When the cue ball contacts the other balls, momentum is transferred causing them to gain momentum and speed.
Each pool ball gains as much momentum as the cue ball loses.
After the collision, there is more momentum than before the collision.
2. A train car moving along at 3 m/s runs into another train car at rest on the track. The cars attach together and continue moving in the same direction. The velocity of both cars together after the collision is
• When the cue ball contact the other ball, momentum is transferred causing then to gain momentum and speed
• Less than 3m/s
Explanation
According to the law of momentum conservation, when two objects in an isolated system collide, the total momentum of the two objects before and after collision is equal .Momentum is directly proportional to both the mass of the objects and velocity. In this collision, the objects interact with each other thus they stick together after collision and move with a similar velocity. I.e. an elastic collision.
