Final Answer:
The momentum conserved for the cannonball is:
b. No
Step-by-step explanation:
When a cannonball is fired, its momentum changes. According to the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of an isolated system remains constant if no external forces act on it. However, in this case, the cannonball experiences an external force during its launch – the force exerted by the gunpowder explosion in the cannon. This force imparts an impulse to the cannonball, changing its momentum.
In the process of firing, the cannonball experiences an acceleration due to the force applied by the exploding gunpowder. According to Newton's second law (F=ma), this force results in an acceleration, causing the cannonball to gain velocity. Since momentum is the product of mass and velocity, any change in velocity leads to a change in momentum.
It's essential to recognize that momentum conservation applies to isolated systems with no external forces. In the case of a fired cannonball, external forces are at play during the launch, violating the conditions necessary for momentum conservation. Therefore, the correct answer is "No," as the momentum of the cannonball does change during its firing due to the external force applied by the gunpowder explosion.