Similarly, when a cannonball is fired momentum is conserved for the system cannon cannonball Would momentum be conserved for the system if momentum were not a vector quantity explain?
Explain. No, the momentum would not be conserved if momentum were not a vector quantity, because then it would not cancel. That is, the momentum of the cannon $+$ the momentum of the cannonball would be twice the momentum of the cannon and it would have increased from zero.
Similarly, when cannonball fired from a cannon the momentum? When a cannon is fired, the cannon ball gains forward momentum and the cannon gains backward momentum. Before the cannon is fired (the 'event') the total momentum is zero. This is because neither object is moving.
Accordingly, what does it mean when momentum is conserved?
For any collision occurring in an isolated system, momentum is conserved. The total amount of momentum of the collection of objects in the system is the same before the collision as after the collision.
Would momentum be conserved for the system if momentum were not a vector quantity?
Yes, because if there is no external impulse exerted in a system then there will be no change in momentum. When it is said the momentum is conserved that means there is no change. Momentum is conserved for inelastic collisions.