What can be said about the change of momentum in one mass during a collision?

Prepare for the NCEA Level 2 Physics Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

In a collision, the principle of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant if no external forces act on it. During a collision, when one mass changes its momentum, the other mass must experience a change in momentum of equal magnitude but opposite direction. This is because momentum is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction.

When one object collides with another, the forces they exert on each other are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction (according to Newton's Third Law). As a result, the change in momentum of the first object is exactly counterbalanced by the change in momentum of the second object. This relationship ensures that the total momentum of the system before and after the collision remains constant.

This concept is essential for understanding how objects interact in collisions and forms the basis for many calculations in physics related to dynamics and kinematics. Thus, the statement that the change of momentum in one mass during a collision is equal to the change of momentum of the other mass accurately reflects this fundamental principle of momentum conservation.

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