Question

Two bowling balls, each with a mass of 8.52 kg, are traveling toward each other. Find the total momentum of the system if both balls have a speed of 2.13 m/s, but are traveling opposite of one another.

Answer 1

Answer:

total momentum will be zero

refer to the attachment .......

Answer 2

Given: Mass of the balls = 8.52kg

Speed of the balls =  2.13 m/s

Both balls are moving towards each other

To Find: Momentum of the system

Solution:

Since both the balls are moving in opposite directions, the velocity of one can be considered as positive and the other as negative.

Let ball 1 be moving in the positive direction

The velocity of ball 1 (v1) = +2.13m/s

Let ball 2 be moving in the negative direction

The velocity of ball 2 (v2) = -2.13m/s

Momentum of a body = Mass of the body x Velocity of the body

The momentum of ball 1 = Mass of the ball x Velocity of ball 1

                                         = 8.52 x 2.13

                                         = 18.15 kg-m/s

The momentum of ball 2 = Mass of the ball x Velocity of ball 2

                                          = 8.52 x -2.13

                                          = - 18.15 kg-m/s

Momentum of the system = Momentum of ball 1 + Momentum of ball 2

                                           = 18.15 + (-18.15)

                                           = 18.15 - 18.15

                                           = 0

Therefore, the momentum of the system is zero.