Conservation of momentum is a fundamental law in physics that states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant over time, unless acted upon by an external force.
An elastic collision is a type of collision between two objects where the total kinetic energy of the system is conserved. This means that the objects bounce off each other without any loss of energy.
In an elastic collision, the total momentum of the system before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision. This means that the sum of the masses of the objects multiplied by their velocities before the collision is equal to the sum of the masses multiplied by their velocities after the collision.
The mass and velocity of the objects involved in the collision are the main factors that affect the conservation of momentum. The direction and angle of the collision can also play a role in the final momentum of the system.
The conservation of momentum is applied in a wide range of real-life situations, such as collisions of vehicles, balls, and other objects. It is also used in rocket propulsion, where the momentum of the exhaust gases propels the rocket forward.