What is an example of conservation of momentum in everyday life?

An example of conservation of momentum in everyday life is a collision between two ice skaters on a rink.

When two ice skaters collide, the total momentum before and after the collision remains the same, provided no external forces act on them. Imagine two skaters gliding towards each other. Skater A has a mass of 50 kg and is moving at 3 m/s, while Skater B has a mass of 70 kg and is moving at 2 m/s in the opposite direction. The momentum of each skater can be calculated by multiplying their mass by their velocity.

For Skater A, the momentum is 50 kg * 3 m/s = 150 kg·m/s. For Skater B, moving in the opposite direction, the momentum is 70 kg * (-2 m/s) = -140 kg·m/s. The total momentum before the collision is 150 kg·m/s + (-140 kg·m/s) = 10 kg·m/s.

After the collision, if the skaters stick together and move as one unit, their combined mass is 50 kg + 70 kg = 120 kg. To find their velocity after the collision, we use the conservation of momentum principle, which states that the total momentum before the collision equals the total momentum after the collision. Therefore, 10 kg·m/s = 120 kg * v, where v is the velocity after the collision. Solving for v, we get v = 10 kg·m/s / 120 kg = 0.083 m/s.

This example illustrates how the principle of conservation of momentum applies in real-life situations. It helps us understand how objects interact and move after collisions, which is fundamental in physics and has practical applications in areas like vehicle safety and sports.