Sorry, I should say that the momentum is conserved, but it would affect the velocity (that is, the overall kinetic energy is the same, which means velocity has to drop by an equal factor to conserve energy). It would be similar to if the extra mass were to be suddenly tethered to the bullet, which would understandably slow it down.
That being said, it’s D&D and people can rule however they want.
Let’s do a quick thought experiment. Let’s say you’re tossing a cannonball in your hand, and the mage shrinks it just as it leaves your hand (maximum momentum). If momentum is conserved, the cannonball would have to dramatically increase speed to conserve momentum.
shrunken size would be about a marble, with a mass of ~2.7g
Initial momentum of the cannonball would be 83.6 kg·m/s. If momentum is conserved, the marble would travel 30963 m/s, or Mach 90. That’s unreasonable.
So for this to make any sense, conservation of momentum shouldn’t be preserved. In other words, mass would be added with the current velocity, so it would increase momentum as it unshrinks.
Sorry, I should say that the momentum is conserved, but it would affect the velocity (that is, the overall kinetic energy is the same, which means velocity has to drop by an equal factor to conserve energy). It would be similar to if the extra mass were to be suddenly tethered to the bullet, which would understandably slow it down.
That being said, it’s D&D and people can rule however they want.
Why assume a conservation of momentum?
Let’s do a quick thought experiment. Let’s say you’re tossing a cannonball in your hand, and the mage shrinks it just as it leaves your hand (maximum momentum). If momentum is conserved, the cannonball would have to dramatically increase speed to conserve momentum.
Example data/assumptions:
Initial momentum of the cannonball would be 83.6 kg·m/s. If momentum is conserved, the marble would travel 30963 m/s, or Mach 90. That’s unreasonable.
So for this to make any sense, conservation of momentum shouldn’t be preserved. In other words, mass would be added with the current velocity, so it would increase momentum as it unshrinks.