Question

Which has more momentum: a bus moving 5 m/s or a bus moving 15 m/s? Explain your answer.

A) The bus moving 5 m/s has more momentum because it is slower.
B) The bus moving 15 m/s has more momentum because it is faster.
C) Both buses have the same momentum.
D) More information is needed to determine which bus has more momentum.

Answer 1

The bus moving at 15 m/s has more momentum than the bus moving at 5 m/s. In physics, momentum is defined as the product of an object’s mass (m) and its velocity (v), which is stated in the equation p = m × v. The bus moving at 15 m/s has more momentum because momentum is directly proportional to velocity given a constant mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

The bus moving at 15 m/s has more momentum than the bus moving at 5 m/s. In physics, momentum is defined as the product of an object’s mass (m) and its velocity (v), which is stated in the equation p = m × v. Since both buses have the same mass, the only variable that changes is the velocity. A higher velocity leads to a larger momentum, assuming the mass remains constant. Therefore, the faster bus (15 m/s) possesses greater momentum.