Where does momentum come from when a firecracker explodes?

Where does momentum come from when a firecracker explodes?

A firecracker is placed between the cans and lit. The firecracker explodes and exerts equal and opposite forces on the two cans. Assuming the system of two cans to be isolated, the post-explosion momentum of the system ____….

Momentum Before Explosion Momentum After Explosion
Total 0 0

How does conservation of momentum govern the symmetry of the firework explosion?

The symmetry of fireworks explosions shows that momentum is conserved. To achieve a pattern like this one, the explosion of the colored fireworks charges is timed so that it occurs right at the top of the flight of the fireworks package, where the velocity of the shell is zero.

What is the sum of the final momentum of all the pieces of an exploding firecracker?

At initial rest, the total kinetic energy is zero and the total momentum is zero. Now, due to some mechanism(explosion), the particles are sent in opposite directions with the same speed so the momenta are equal and opposite thus, the total momentum is zero even though the individual momenta are not.

Is momentum conserved in a firecracker?

A firecracker at rest explodes, sending fragmetns off in all directions. Sure, there was new kinetic energy put into this system from the explosion, but the momentum still is zero as a result of each piece of the firecracker pushing on every other piece.

Why does kinetic energy increase in explosion?

After the explosion, the net momentum of all the pieces of the object must sum to zero (since the momentum of this closed system cannot change). This interaction—one object becoming many, with an increase of kinetic energy of the system—is called an explosion.

How do you calculate energy released in an explosion in physics?

Let’s say the two masses are 40 g each, and when the device explodes it sends each mass going the opposite way at 130 m/s. Before the explosion, the combined 80 g mass is moving to the right at 1 m/s. Its momentum is therefore 80 g m / s to the right. It’s kinetic energy is ½ * 80g * (1m/s)2 = 40 mJ.

What is meant by explosion in physics?

An explosion is defined as the rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner.

What is the total momentum of the three pieces immediately after the explosion?

After the explosion, each piece now has a mass M/3, going in different directions at different velocities, say v1,v2,v3. Thus total momentum is just the sum of all individual momentum, i.e. M/3*v1 + M/3*v2 + M/3*v3 = M/3 * (v1+v2+v3).

What are the physics of an explosion?

Explosions occur when energy is transformed from one kind e.g. chemical potential energy to another e.g. heat energy or kinetic energy extremely quickly. So, like in inelastic collisions, total kinetic energy is not conserved in explosions. But total momentum is always conserved.

What is an explosion in physics?

When an object explodes, it breaks up into more than one piece and it therefore changes its shape. Explosions occur when energy is transformed from one kind e.g. chemical potential energy to another e.g. heat energy or kinetic energy extremely quickly.

Why do fireworks explode symmetric?

This is a consequence of the conservation of momentum theory that states that the sum of the momentum of each piece from the explosion equals the initial momentum of the fireworks, causing the fireworks explosions to be symmetric.

What kind of physics is used in fireworks?

In the photograph shown left, conservation of energy, projectile motion, and conservation of momentum are just a few examples of the physics behind fireworks. When ignoring air resistance and friction momentum is conserved for fireworks.

What forces are conserved when making fireworks?

When ignoring air resistance and friction momentum is conserved for fireworks. Contrary to popular belief, the only forces acting on the fireworks are forces internal to the system and gravity which effects everything that has a mass.

Why do fireworks explode at higher altitudes?

(Aesthetics because more people can see them at higher altitudes; safety because a large, low-altitude explosion would be disastrous!) The physics plays a central role with the size of your fireworks as well, because a larger firework not only requires a larger lift charge, but a larger explosive charge to propel the insides outward!

author

Back to Top