What does the law of conservation of momentum state?

The law of conservation of momentum states that in an isolated system, the total momentum remains constant over time, as long as no external forces act on it. This principle stems from Newton's third law of motion, which asserts that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In an isolated system, any changes in momentum within individual components must balance each other out, resulting in no net change in total momentum.

For instance, consider two ice skaters pushing off from one another. Initially, they are at rest, and their total momentum is zero. After they push off, they move in opposite directions; the momentum of one skater in one direction is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the momentum of the other skater, thereby keeping the total momentum of the system conserved.

In contrast, other statements misrepresent the principle. The idea that momentum is always lost in non-isolated systems does not accurately reflect how momentum can be transferred or transformed rather than lost. The assertion that momentum changes with increased velocity misunderstands the definition of momentum, which is defined as the product of mass and velocity. Additionally, while it is true that only external forces can affect the momentum of an isolated system, this statement does not encapsulate the complete