Question

If the total momentum for a system is the same before and after the collision, we say that momentum is conserved. If momentum were conserved, what would be the ratio of the total momentum after the collision to the total momentum before the collision?

Answer 1

Answer:

Ratio = 1:1

Explanation:

$P_{i}$ = initial momentum of the system

$P_{f}$ = final momentum of the system

For the momentum to be conserved , final total momentum must be equal to initial total momentum, so we have

$P_{f} = P_{i}$

Dividing both side by $P_{i}$ , we get

$\frac{P_{f}}{P_{i}} = \frac{P_{i}}{P_{i}} \\\frac{P_{f}}{P_{i}} = 1$

hence

Ratio = 1