Question

If the velocity of a moving object decreases from 60 m/s to 30 m/s, what happens to its momentum?

Answer 1

Hello!

momentum is p=mv so if the velocity is decreased by a factor of 2, which is 1/2 the value, then the momentum of that object will decrease by the same factorial.

Hope this helps, any questions please ask. Thank you!

Answer 2

Qualitatively the momentum is the amount of motion contained in the body.

Quantitatively momentum is the product of mass and velocity of the body.

Mathematically momentum= mass×velocity

i.e p=m×v

where p denotes the momentum.

As per the question the initial velocity of the particle is given as [u]=60 m/s

The final velocity of the particle is given as [v]=30 m/s

Let the mass of the particle is m kg

The initial momentum
`p_(1) =m*u`

=60m kg m/s

the final momentum
`p_(2) =m*v`

=30m kg m/s

Hence the change in momentum is given as -

`p_(2) -p_(1) =[30m -60m] kg m/s`

= -30m kg m/s

Here the minus sign indicates the loss of momentum

Hence the momentum is decreased by twice as the velocity is decreased by twice.

In general if velocity is decreased by m times ,then the momentum is decreased by m times also.