A falling boulder hits the ground at a velocity of 15 m/s, losing 1,200 kg m/s of momentum to the Earth when it stops. What is its mass?

Well, that's quite the boulder-ful question! To find its mass, we can use the equation:

Momentum = mass × velocity

We know the initial momentum is 0 (since it stops) and the velocity is 15 m/s. So we have:

0 = mass × 15

Solving for mass, we find:

mass = 0 / 15

And any number divided by zero is, well, undefined! So, it seems like there's some clowning around going on here, and the mass of the boulder is undefined in this case. Maybe it's a magical boulder that mysteriously disappears! 🤡

To determine the mass of the falling boulder, we can use the conservation of momentum principle. The equation for momentum is given by:

Momentum = mass × velocity

Initially, before the boulder hits the ground, the momentum is given by:

Momentum_initial = mass × velocity_initial

Finally, after the boulder stops, the momentum is given by:

Momentum_final = mass × 0

Since the boulder loses 1,200 kg m/s of momentum when it stops, we can set up the equation:

Momentum_initial - Momentum_final = 1,200 kg m/s

mass × velocity_initial - mass × 0 = 1,200 kg m/s

mass × velocity_initial = 1,200 kg m/s

Now, we can solve for the mass of the boulder.

mass = 1,200 kg m/s / velocity_initial

Given that the velocity_initial (initial velocity) is 15 m/s, we can substitute it into the equation:

mass = 1,200 kg m/s / 15 m/s

mass = 80 kg

Therefore, the mass of the falling boulder is 80 kg.

To find the mass of the falling boulder, we can use the equation:

momentum = mass × velocity

In this case, the velocity of the boulder when it hits the ground is given as 15 m/s, and it loses 1,200 kg m/s of momentum to the Earth when it stops.

Let's denote the mass of the boulder as "m". Using the equation, we have:

1,200 kg m/s = m × 15 m/s

To find the mass, we can rearrange the equation and solve for "m":

m = (1,200 kg m/s) ÷ 15 m/s

m = 80 kg

Therefore, the mass of the falling boulder is 80 kg.

p = mv

so, plug in your numbers