Translational Momentum of a particle

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating translational momentum, specifically comparing the momentum of a person with a mass of 80 kg to that of a car weighing 1600 kg moving at 1.2 km/h.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the formula for momentum and how to apply it to find the required velocity for the person to match the car's momentum. Questions arise regarding the units of momentum and the steps needed to equate the two momenta.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on calculating momentum and suggested equating the two momenta to solve for the unknown velocity. There is an ongoing exploration of the units involved and the necessary steps to reach a solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of a homework problem and are seeking clarification on the calculations without being provided a complete solution.

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Suppose that your mass is 80 kg. How fast would you have to run to have the same translational momentum as a 1600 kg car moving at 1.2 km/h? I happen to know the answer is 24 km/hr. But, how do I get to this answer? What are the steps? Could someone solve it out and show me how they got it? Thanks a million!
 
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Momentum, which we denote by p, is simply the product of the mass and the velocity: p=mv. So since you know the mass and velocity of the car you can calculate its momentum and since you know what your mass is you can calculate what your velocity needs to be in order to have that same momentum.
 
The car's momentum is 1600*1.2 kg-km/hr? That being 1920. What would the units be?
Now my momentum is 80*Vu kg-km/hr where Vu is your velocity?
Where do I go from here?
 
Equate the two and solve for Vu. Momentum doesn't have a special unit in the SI system, it's usually just written as kg*m/s or sometimes N*s (the two are equivalent).
 

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