Exam-style question
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During an explosion, two objects move apart. How does the conservation of momentum apply?.
- A.The total momentum before the explosion is zero.
- B.The total momentum after the explosion is zero.
- C.The momentum of one object is equal to the momentum of the other.
- D.The total momentum before and after the explosion is conserved.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The total momentum before and after the explosion is conserved.
Explanation
Why this works
In an explosion, the total momentum of the system is conserved, meaning that the momentum before the explosion equals the momentum after, regardless of the individual movements of the objects.
Common mistake
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