The law of conservation of linear momentum states that the total linear momentum of an isolated system remains constant if no external forces act on it. In other words, the total momentum before an event or interaction is equal to the total momentum after the event.
Mathematically, the law of conservation of linear momentum can be expressed as:
∑m1⋅v1+∑m2⋅v2=∑m1⋅v1′+∑m2⋅v2′sum m_1 cdot mathbf{v}_1 + sum m_2 cdot mathbf{v}_2 = sum m_1 cdot mathbf{v}_1' + sum m_2 cdot mathbf{v}_2'∑m1⋅v1+∑m2⋅v2=∑m1⋅v1′+∑m2⋅v2′
where:
- m1m_1m1 and m2m_2m2 are the masses of the objects involved in the interaction,
- v1mathbf{v}_1v1 and <