Question

1. which series of steps describes how to demonstrate conservation of momentum in a system of two moving particles that collide? (1 point) determine the momentums of the two particles before the collision and add them together. determine the momentums of the two particles after the collision and add them together. verify that both sums are zero. determine the momentums of the two particles before the collision and add them together. determine the momentums of the two particles after the collision and add them together. verify that both sums are the same. determine the momentums of one of the particles before and after the collision and add them together. determine the momentums of the other particle before and after the collision and add them together. verify that both sums are the same. determine the momentums of one of the particles before and after the collision and add them together. determine the momentums of the other particle before and after collision and add them together. verify that both sums are zero.

Explanation:

The law of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant. For a system of two - particle collision, we need to calculate the total momentum before the collision ($p_{total\ before}=p_1 + p_2$) and the total momentum after the collision ($p_{total\ after}=p_1'+p_2'$). According to the law, $p_{total\ before}=p_{total\ after}$.

• Option 1: Verifying that both sums are zero is wrong. The total momentum of the system is conserved, but it is not necessarily zero.
• Option 2: This is correct. We find the sum of momenta before and after the collision and check if they are the same.
• Option 3: We should consider the sum of momenta of both particles before and the sum of momenta of both particles after, not the sum of one - particle's momenta before and after.
• Option 4: Similar to option 1, the total momentum is conserved but not necessarily zero.

Answer:

Determine the momentums of the two particles before the collision and add them together. Determine the momentums of the two particles after the collision and add them together. Verify that both sums are the same.