Final answer:
The change in momentum is greater in Scenario 1 because the bouncing object must reverse direction, effectively doubling the change. Momentum is a vector, and direction matters in its calculation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking about the change in momentum for two scenarios where objects of the same mass hit a flat tabletop at the same speed. In the first scenario, the object bounces off the table, and in the second, it stops. The change in momentum is defined as the final momentum minus the initial momentum. In both scenarios, since the masses and initial speeds are the same, the key difference lies in the final velocities: in Scenario 1, the object bounces back with the same speed in the opposite direction, while in Scenario 2, it comes to rest.
Momentum is a vector quantity, meaning direction is important. When an object bounces back, its velocity after the collision is in the opposite direction compared to its initial velocity, doubling the change in momentum, since it has to first be brought to a stop and then given the same velocity in the opposite direction. Thus, the change in momentum is greater in Scenario 1.
Conservation of momentum is a principle stating that when no external forces act on a system, the total momentum of the system remains constant. This principle applies to multiple scenarios, whether it is two air cars colliding in a frictionless environment or two cars bumping into each other, the total momentum before and after the collision is conserved, provided there are no external forces and system is isolated.