MECHANICAL ENERGY

CONTENT

1. The Principle of Conservation of Linear Momentum
2. Types of Collisions

The Principle of Conservation of Linear Momentum

In a closed system of colliding bodies, the total momentum after the collision is equal to the total momentum before the collision provided there is no net external force acting on the system.

Case 1: Consider two bodies A and B of masses m₁ and m₂ moving in the same direction with velocities u₁ and u₂ respectively. After collision their velocities were V₁ and V₂ as shown below.

Applying the principle of conservation of linear momentum,

\(M_1 U_1 + M_2 U_2 = M_1 V_1 + M_2 V_2\)

Case 2: Consider two bodies A and B of masses m₁ and m₂ moving towards each other with velocities u₁ and u₂ respectively. After collision there velocities were V₁ and V_{2 .}