Question

in a partially elastic collision between two objects with unequal mass: select one: a. the momentum of one will increase by the amount that the momentum of the other decreases. b. the total momentum of the system will decrease. c. the velocity of one will increase by the amount that the velocity of the other decreases. d. the energy of one increases by the amount that the energy of the other decreases.

Explanation:

In a partially elastic collision, the law of conservation of momentum applies. This law states that the total momentum of an isolated system remains constant. So, if the momentum of one object increases, the momentum of the other object must decrease by the same amount to keep the total momentum constant.
For option b, in a partially elastic collision (as long as there is no external force acting on the system), the total momentum of the system is conserved and does not decrease.
For option c, velocity change is not directly related in such a simple “increase - decrease by the same amount” way as momentum (since \(p = mv\) and masses are unequal).
For option d, in a partially elastic collision, kinetic energy is not conserved (some is lost as heat, sound etc.), so the energy of one does not increase by the amount the energy of the other decreases.

Answer:

A. the momentum of one will increase by the amount that the momentum of the other decreases.