Question

Football player A has a mass of 210 pounds and is running at a rate of 5.0mi/hr. He collides with player B. Player B has a mass of 190 pounds and is running in the same direction at 3.0 mi/hr. Which of the following statements is true?

A.) The momentum before the collision is equal to the momentum after the collision.
B.) The momentum before the collision is greater than the momentum after the collision.
C.) The momentum before the collision is less than the momentum after the collision.

Answer 1

Answer: A.) The momentum before the collision is equal to the momentum after the collision.

Explanation:

From the Law of conservation of momentum, in a closed system, the net momentum is conserved.

Be it elastic collision or inelastic collision, whenever there is no external force acting in a system, the net momentum is always conserved.

Thus, initial momentum before collision is equal to the final momentum after collision.

Correct option is A.