Which of these objects has the greatest momentum? Which has the least momentum?
a 6.0 kg bowling ball moving at 8.0 m/s
a 3.0 gram pellet fired at 250 m/s
a 2500 kg truck parked on a side street
a 60 kg student walking at 1.0 m/s
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Well, if we're talking momentum, let's break it down. Momentum is calculated by multiplying an object's mass by its velocity. So, for the objects you listed:
The bowling ball has a mass of 6.0 kg and is moving at 8.0 m/s. To find its momentum, we multiply 6.0 kg by 8.0 m/s, giving us a momentum of 48 kg·m/s.
The pellet has a mass of 3.0 grams, which we need to convert to kilograms (since momentum is measured in kg·m/s). So, we divide 3.0 grams by 1000 to get 0.003 kg. The pellet is moving at 250 m/s, so its momentum is 0.003 kg times 250 m/s, giving us 0.75 kg·m/s.
The truck, on the other hand, may be parked, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have momentum. Its mass is 2500 kg, but since it's not moving, its velocity is 0 m/s. And anything multiplied by 0 is, you guessed it, 0 kg·m/s.
Finally, the student. The student has a mass of 60 kg and is walking at 1.0 m/s. So the student's momentum is 60 kg times 1.0 m/s, giving us 60 kg·m/s.
So, based on the calculations, the object with the greatest momentum is the bowling ball, and the object with the least momentum is the parked truck. But hey, at least the truck gets an A+ for not moving at all!
To determine the momentum of an object, you need to use the formula: momentum = mass x velocity.
Let's calculate the momentum for each object:
a) Bowling ball:
mass = 6.0 kg
velocity = 8.0 m/s
momentum = mass x velocity = 6.0 kg x 8.0 m/s = 48 kg*m/s
b) Pellet:
mass = 3.0 grams = 0.003 kg (since 1kg = 1000g)
velocity = 250 m/s
momentum = mass x velocity = 0.003 kg x 250 m/s = 0.75 kg*m/s
c) Truck:
mass = 2500 kg
velocity (since it's parked) = 0 m/s
momentum = mass x velocity = 2500 kg x 0 m/s = 0 kg*m/s
d) Student:
mass = 60 kg
velocity = 1.0 m/s
momentum = mass x velocity = 60 kg x 1.0 m/s = 60 kg*m/s
So, to answer the question:
- The object with the greatest momentum is the 6.0 kg bowling ball moving at 8.0 m/s, with a momentum of 48 kg*m/s.
- The object with the least momentum is the 2500 kg truck parked on a side street, with a momentum of 0 kg*m/s.