I understand that they have two similar but different formula’s that both scale differently with velocity. I also understand that momentum has a direction ie. Vectored, and kinetic energy is directionless. What I can’t wrap my head around is how they are seperate properties with differing values and how it interacts with forces on an object.
For example, when an object collides with a wall, momentum drops to zero, the change in momentum requires the wall to exert force on the object and it involves some work done, and therefore energy. At the same time, the kinetic energy of the object is also released as heat(?)
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If you shoot a billiard ball directly at another one, the first ball stops and the second one picks up all of the first’s momentum. But according to conservation of momentum, that’s only one of the possible endings. What could also happen is that the first one *bounces back*, and the second ball picks up more speed than the first originally had. The reason this doesn’t happen is that this second scenario has more energy and so is prohibited by conservation of energy.
Basically if you only had one of the laws then any collision would have an infinite number of “legal” results, but with both there is exactly one result.
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