Conservation of momentum explains why a gun or cannon recoils backwards when it is fired. When a cannon is fired, the cannon ball gains forward momentum and the cannon gains backward momentum.

In basic physics, the principle of momentum is intuitive: Give a billiard ball a tap, and the ball will keep rolling in the same direction from one second to the next. It’s tempting to apply the ...

The questions in this quiz are suitable for GCSE physics students studying momentum calculations, conservation of momentum and force and momentum. If you struggled with the quiz, don't panic - we ...

(Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/ Getty Images) The dawn of a new year brings with it a unique opportunity: the chance to start moving towards big things, to harness momentum. In 2025, momentum isn’t ...