When a firecracker resting on a friction-free horizontal surface explodes into two…
PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
When a firecracker resting on a friction-free horizontal surface explodes into two fragments, which quantity for the system of fragments must have the same value immediately before and immediately after the explosion, provided no external forces act on the system?
(a) linear momentum of each fragment separately
(b) linear momentum of the system
(c) kinetic energy of the system
(d) mechanical energy of the system (kinetic + potential)