Question

A small puck S and a larger, more massive puck L move toward one another, collide head-on, and bounce apart all on frictionless ice. Which of the following quantities is conserved during this collision?

A) Total energy
B) Total momentum
C) Total kinetic energy
D) None of the above

Answer 1

Total momentum is conserved during the head-on collision of two pucks on frictionless ice, while total kinetic energy may not be if the collision is inelastic.OPTION B.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the collision of two pucks on frictionless ice, the quantity that is conserved is total momentum. Momentum is always conserved in collisions as long as there are no external forces acting on the system.

Although total energy is also conserved, the question likely refers to kinetic energy, which may not be conserved in inelastic collisions where objects stick together or deform.

Conservation of momentum can be used to solve problems where two objects collide and bounce apart, ensuring that the total momentum before and after the collision remains the same.