Question

Object A, with a mass of 5 kg, is moving at a velocity of 3 m/s. Object B, with a mass of 3 kg, is moving at a velocity of -5 m/s. Based on the calculations of their momentum, which of the following statements is correct?

A
The magnitude of Object A's momentum is greater than Object B's momentum.

B
The magnitude of Object A's momentum is less than Object B's momentum.

C
The magnitude of the objects momentums AND direction are equal.

D
The magnitude of the objects momentums are equal but their directions are opposite.

Answer 1

Objects A and B have the same magnitude of momentum, which is 15 kg·m/s, but their directions are opposite, making statement D correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The magnitude of Object A's momentum can be calculated by multiplying its mass (5 kg) by its velocity (3 m/s), which gives us 15 kg·m/s. Similarly, the momentum of Object B is the product of its mass (3 kg) and its velocity (-5 m/s), equaling -15 kg·m/s. The magnitude of Object B's momentum is 15 kg·m/s when considering magnitude alone (ignoring direction).

When comparing the magnitudes (ignoring the sign), we see that both objects have the same momentum magnitude of 15 kg·m/s, but their directions are opposite. Therefore, the correct statement is:

D The magnitude of the objects momentums are equal but their directions are opposite.