When a cannon fires a cannonball, the cannon will recoil backward because the: a) energy of the cannonball and cannon is conserved. b) energy of the cannon is greater than the energy of the cannonball. c) momentum of the cannonball and cannon is conserved. d) momentum of the cannon is greater than the energy of the cannonball.

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When a cannon fires a cannonball, the cannon will recoil backward because the: a) energy of the cannonball and cannon is conserved. b) energy of the cannon is greater than the energy of the cannonball. c) momentum of the cannonball and cannon is conserved. d) momentum of the cannon is greater than the energy of the cannonball.

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C) the overall linear momentum of the ball and cannon is preserved.

It basically happens that these are a unique system in the beginning before momentum acts on both bodies. This is 0. The total momentum of the System is 0. However, when the positive momentum of the cannonball is added, the system immediately pulling back the gun will have a negative momentum. Could this be extrapolated as a condition of Newton’s third law.