Question

A light and a heavy mass have the same kinetic energy, Which one has more momentum?

Answer 1

Answer ⇒ Heavy mass will have more momentum and less mass have less momentum

Explanation ⇒

Using the formula,

Momentum = √(2km)

Let Heavy mass be M and light mass be m.

Then,

p₁ = √(2kM)

and p₂ = √(2km)

Squaring both sides in both equation,

K = p₁²/2M and K = p₂²/2m

Since, they are having same Kinetic energy (K),

thus,

p₁²/2M = p₂²/2m

∴ p₁/p₂ = √(M/m)

This means, Momentum is directly proportional to square root of Mass.

∴ Heavy mass will have more momentum and less mass have less momentum.

Hope it helps.

Answer 2

Answer:

Momentum = √(2km)

Let Heavy mass be M and light mass be m.

Then,

p₁ = √(2kM)

and p₂ = √(2km)

Squaring both sides in both equation,

K = p₁²/2M and K = p₂²/2m

Since, they are having same Kinetic energy (K),

thus,

p₁²/2M = p₂²/2m

∴ p₁/p₂ = √(M/m)

This means, Momentum is directly proportional to square root of Mass.

∴ Heavy mass will have more momentum and less mass have less momentum.