Stan argues that momentum cannot be conserved when a collision is not a head-on collision. Rachel insists it is conserved because each body receives an impulse of equal magnitude. Rachel is correct because
A) each body exerts an equal and opposite force on the other during the collision.
B) the forces act during equal time intervals.
C) the law of conservation of momentum for an isolated system is a vector equation.
D) of all of the above.
E) of only (a) and (b) above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rachel's argument is supported by all the given reasons: A) Newton's third law ensures that forces between the two bodies are equal and opposite, B) these forces act for the same amount of time, and C) the conservation of momentum is indeed a vector equation, meaning it applies in all directions, not just for head-on collisions.

Stan Argues That Momentum Cannot Be Conserved When a Collision