Conservation laws: Identify the incorrect attribution Statement to evaluate: "According to the principle of conservation of energy, the total momentum of a system in any direction remains constant unless acted upon by an external force in that direction." Choose whether the statement is correct or incorrect.

Given data
We are judging a statement that mixes conservation laws.

Concept/Approach
Conservation of momentum (not energy) states that in the absence of external force along a direction, total momentum along that direction remains constant. Conservation of energy states total energy of an isolated system remains constant.

Step-by-step
The statement assigns a momentum result to the energy principle.Therefore the attribution is wrong.

Common pitfalls
Interchanging momentum and energy conservation statements.

Final Answer
Incorrect