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Is there any situation in which a bowling ball has a greater momentum than a large truck?

A) Yes
B) No
C) It depends on their respective velocities
D) It depends on their respective masses

User Keybee
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The momentum of a bowling ball can be greater than that of a large truck if the ball's velocity is sufficiently high; momentum depends on both mass and velocity and is always conserved in the absence of external forces.

Step-by-step explanation:

This is being asked whether there is any situation in which a bowling ball has greater momentum than a large truck. The correct answer is C) It depends on their respective velocities. Momentum is defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity (momentum = mass x velocity). Therefore, if a bowling ball were moving at a sufficiently high velocity, it could indeed have greater momentum than a large truck moving at a much slower velocity. In reference to the experiments and discussions provided: The total momentum of two air cars before and after a collision is the same if there are no external forces acting on them, indicating that momentum is conserved in the system. In the scenario where a player catches a ball, despite the ball having a greater velocity, the player's greater mass means his momentum is much greater, and thus his motion isn't significantly affected.

User Rstruck
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