How to Calculate Momentum in a Pool Collision

The formula to calculate momentum in a pool collision scenario is:

Momentum = mass x velocity

Where momentum is measured in g · m/s, mass is measured in grams (g), and velocity is measured in meters per second (m/s).

When calculating momentum in a pool collision, it is important to remember that momentum is a vector quantity. This means that not only the magnitude but also the direction of momentum is important. The law of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum before the collision is equal to the total momentum after the collision, assuming no external forces are present.

Example:

Let's say we have an orange billiard ball with a mass of 165 grams and a velocity of 1 m/s colliding with a green billiard ball at rest. After the collision, the orange ball continues in the same direction with a momentum of 60 g · m/s. We need to calculate the momentum of the green ball right after the collision.

We can use the formula for momentum to calculate this:

Initial momentum of orange ball = Final momentum of orange ball + Final momentum of green ball

165 g · m/s = 60 g · m/s + Momentum of green ball

Momentum of green ball = 165 g · m/s - 60 g · m/s

Momentum of green ball = 105 g · m/s

Therefore, the momentum of the green ball right after the collision is 105 g · m/s.