Forces – How Can There Be a Change in Momentum with No Apparent External Force?

conservation-lawsforcesmomentum

Momentum is conserved in a system with no external force.
So then let's imagine a particle of mass m being dropped from the surface of Earth's atmosphere such that there is a significant change in G between its initial and final position.
a change in G, then, means a change in acceleration, which means a change in force which then means a change in momentum.
I can see that G is indeed changing in time and so momentum must also be changing, but I don't see how G is changing without there being an external force.

Best Answer

I am assuming by $G$ you actually mean $g$, local gravitational acceleration ($9.8 \,\mathrm{m/s^2}$ on Earth's surface) and not the universal gravitation constant, usually denoted $G$ ($6.7\cdot 10^{-11} \mathrm{N~m^2~kg^{-2}}$), which does not change.

If that's the case, your question is

a change in $g$, then, means a change in acceleration, which means a change in force which then means a change in momentum.

There is a little bit of confusion here. Even a constant force will cause a constant acceleration; so a constant, uniform gravity field will cause continuous acceleration (constantly increasing speed v). Since momentum is mv, this means momentum is changing constantly even under a constant force (and accompanying constant acceleration).

The fact that the local value of $g$ changes in your scenario does not add anything significant, except that the acceleration and force will increase instead of being constant, and the momentum will increase more quickly than it would have in a constant gravity field.

I can see that g is indeed changing in time and so momentum must also be changing

Acceleration does not have to change in order for momentum to change. As discussed, a constant g will cause a continuous increase in speed and momentum.

but I don't see how g is changing without there being an external force

The external force is gravity.