Question

When going bowling, you throw a 5 kg ball down the lane at 20 m/s on one turn and you throw an 8 kg ball down the lane at 20 m/s on your next turn. Which ball would be more likely to knock over more pins?

A) 5 kg ball
B) 8 kg ball
C) Both A and B
D) None of the above

Answer 1

The 8 kg bowling ball thrown at 20 m/s is more likely to knock over more pins due to its greater momentum, which is a product of mass and velocity, compared to the 5 kg ball at the same speed.

Step-by-step explanation:

When deciding which ball would knock over more pins in bowling, the 8 kg ball at 20 m/s would be more likely to knock over more pins than the 5 kg ball thrown at the same speed. This is due to the concept of momentum in physics, which is the product of an object's mass and its velocity. Momentum is a measure of the amount of motion an object has and is a key factor in collisions, such as a bowling ball striking pins.

Both balls have the same speed, but the 8 kg ball has a higher mass, thus greater momentum. When it comes into contact with the pins, assuming all else equal, it has the potential to transfer more energy to the pins and knock more of them down. The likelihood of knocking down more pins is related to the momentum of the ball and its ability to impart energy to the pins during the collision.