Key concepts
Momentum: Mass multiplied by velocity. Total momentum stays constant in an isolated system.
Kinetic energy: Energy of motion. It is conserved in elastic collisions but partly becomes internal energy in inelastic collisions.
Temperature: A measure related to average molecular kinetic energy; higher temperature produces faster motion.
Impulse: The collision force acting over a short time changes each particle’s momentum by equal and opposite amounts.
Model note: collision mechanics and conservation laws are physically based. Particle scale, chamber depth, and time are visually accelerated educational representations.
Applications & misconceptions
Applications: gas pressure, reaction rates, airbags, sports equipment, particle detectors, and material testing.
Misconception: Momentum is not “used up.” Equal and opposite impulses redistribute it.
Misconception: Inelastic does not mean momentum disappears; it means kinetic energy is transformed.