Chapter 2.2, Problem 15PP

To determine

To compare: the momentum of a softball and a basketball if they both are moving at the same velocity.

Answer to Problem 15PP

Momentum of the baseball would be 3 times larger than the momentum of the softball due to its greater mass.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

Mass of a basketball is equal to the three times greater than the mass of a softball.

The speed of a basketball is equal to speed of a softball.

Formula used:

The equation for the momentum of the car can be expressed as

  $p=mv$....................(1)

Here, $v$ and $m$ are speed and mass.

Calculation:

From the above equation, it is clearly evident that momentum is directly proportional to the mass of the object if the speed is constant.

Lower the mass, lower will be the momentum though speed of two different objects remains the same. Higher the mass of the object, the greater will be the momentum.

For the given condition of basketball and softball, the baseball is three times as heavy as softball so momentum would also be three times greater for baseball than softball since the speed of both the ball is same. Momentum of the baseball would be 3 times larger than the momentum of the softball due to its greater mass.

Conclusion:

Hence, momentum of the baseball would be 3 times larger than the momentum of the softball due to its greater mass.