Question

A 2 kg blob of putty moving at 3 m/s slams into a 3 kg blob of putty at rest. Which blob has the most momentum prior to the collision?

Answer 1

initial momentum of 2 kg blob is given as

`P_1 = m_1v_1`

here we have

`m_1 = 2kg`

`v_1 = 3m/s`

`P_1 = 3(2) = 6 kg m/s`

initial momentum of 3 kg blob is given as

`P_2 = m_2v_2`

here we have

`m_2 = 3kg`

`v_2 = 0m/s`

`P_2 = 3(0) = 0 kg m/s`

So initially 2 kg Blob has most momentum before they collide