Momentum and Kinetic Energy

In summary, momentum is a measure of an object's motion, calculated by multiplying its mass and velocity. It is conserved in a closed system and related to kinetic energy, which is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. Both momentum and kinetic energy can be transferred between objects during interactions, but their values may change if external forces are present.
  • #1
senseandsanity
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0
I need help with this question:
A cardinal of mass 3.60×10-2 kg and a baseball of mass 0.141 kg have the same kinetic energy. What is the ratio of the cardinal's magnitude of momentum to the magnitude of the baseball's momentum (p_c/p_b)?
 
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  • #2
Consider that
[tex]|\vec{p}|=m|\vec{v}|[/tex] and
[tex]E_{K}=\frac{1}{2}mv^2[/tex]
Can you figure it out from there?
 
  • #3


In order to determine the ratio of the cardinal's momentum to the baseball's momentum, we first need to understand the relationship between momentum and kinetic energy.

Momentum is defined as the product of an object's mass and velocity, and it is a vector quantity with both magnitude and direction. On the other hand, kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion, and it is a scalar quantity with only magnitude.

In this scenario, both the cardinal and the baseball have the same kinetic energy, meaning they have the same amount of energy due to their motion. However, the cardinal has a much smaller mass compared to the baseball. This means that the cardinal must have a higher velocity in order to have the same kinetic energy as the baseball.

Since momentum is directly proportional to mass and velocity, we can conclude that the cardinal must have a higher momentum than the baseball due to its higher velocity. This can be expressed as p_c > p_b.

To find the exact ratio of the cardinal's momentum to the baseball's momentum, we can use the equation for momentum (p = mv) and substitute in the given values:

p_c = m_c * v_c
p_b = m_b * v_b

Since we know that the kinetic energy (KE) is the same for both objects, we can set their kinetic energy equations equal to each other:

KE_c = 1/2 * m_c * v_c^2
KE_b = 1/2 * m_b * v_b^2

Since the kinetic energy is the same, we can set these equations equal to each other and solve for the ratio of velocities:

1/2 * m_c * v_c^2 = 1/2 * m_b * v_b^2
v_c^2 = (m_b/m_c) * v_b^2
v_c/v_b = √(m_b/m_c)

Now, we can substitute this ratio of velocities into the momentum equation to find the ratio of the cardinal's momentum to the baseball's momentum:

(p_c/p_b) = (m_c * v_c)/(m_b * v_b)
(p_c/p_b) = (m_c/m_b) * (v_c/v_b)
(p_c/p_b) = (m_c/m_b) * √(m_b/m_c)

Finally, we can plug in the given masses for the cardinal and the baseball to find the numerical value of the ratio:

(p_c/p
 

1. What is momentum?

Momentum is a measure of an object's motion, and it is calculated by multiplying its mass and velocity. It is represented by the symbol "p" and its SI unit is kilogram meters per second (kg*m/s).

2. How is momentum conserved?

Momentum is conserved in a closed system, meaning that the total momentum before and after a collision or interaction remains constant. This is known as the law of conservation of momentum and it is a fundamental principle in physics.

3. What is kinetic energy?

Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. It is calculated by multiplying half of the object's mass by the square of its velocity. Its SI unit is joules (J).

4. How is kinetic energy related to momentum?

There is a direct relationship between kinetic energy and momentum. As an object's velocity increases, both its kinetic energy and momentum also increase. However, momentum also takes into account the object's mass, while kinetic energy does not.

5. Can momentum and kinetic energy be transferred between objects?

Yes, momentum and kinetic energy can be transferred between objects during collisions or interactions. If the objects are in a closed system, the total momentum and kinetic energy before and after the interaction will remain constant. However, if external forces are present, the values may change due to work being done on the objects.

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