Can objects in a system have momentum while the momentum of the system is zero? explain your answer.

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Physics

Tanner Hood

28 September, 21:58

Can objects in a system have momentum while the momentum of the system is zero? explain your answer.

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Amari White · Answer 1

Yes. Momentum is a vector, so several non-zero momenta can add up to zero. Consider for a simple example a mass of 10kg moving to the right at 5m/s, and another mass of 10kg moving to the left at 5m/s. These momenta each have a magnitude equal to 50 kg m/s but have opposite sign and so the total system's momentum is zero.