Chapter 8, Problem 28A

A lunar vehicle is tested on Earth at a speed of 10 km/h. When it travels as fast on the moon, is its momentum more, less, or the same?

To determine

When the lunar vehicle travels as fast on the moon and its momentum is more, less, or the same.

Answer to Problem 28A

The momentum remains same.

Explanation of Solution

Given info:

The speed of the lunar vehicle is $v=10\text{km}/\text{h}$ .

Introduction:

Linear momentum is defined as the product of the system’s mass and the velocity. That is momentum is proportional to the mass and velocity.

The expression for linear momentum as follows:

  $p=mv$

Here, $m$ is the mass and $v$ is the velocity.

Consider the mass of the lunar vehicle is constant in the universe.

The speed of the lunar vehicle on the Moon is same as the speed of the lunar vehicle on the Earth. That is the momentum depends on the mass and the velocity and does not depend on the gravity. So the momentum remains same.

Conclusion:

Thus, the momentum of the lunar vehicle on the Moon is same as the momentum of the lunar vehicle on the Earth.

Thus, the momentum remains same.