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  4. For a system to follow the law of conservation of linear momentum during a collision, the condition is (1) total external force acting on the system is zero. (2) total external force acting on the system is finite and time of collision is negligible. (3) total internal force acting on the system is zero.

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Q. For a system to follow the law of conservation of linear momentum during a collision, the condition is
(1) total external force acting on the system is zero.
(2) total external force acting on the system is finite and time of collision is negligible.
(3) total internal force acting on the system is zero.

AFMCAFMC 2008Work, Energy and Power

Solution:

From Newton's second law,
$F=\frac{d p}{d t}$
If $F=0$, then $\frac{d p}{d t}=0$
$\Rightarrow p=$ constant.
Thus, if total external force acting on the system is zero, then linear momentum of the system remains conserved.