Question

A piece of putty moving with 2 units of momentum strikes and sticks to a heavy bowling ball that is initially at rest. After the putty sticks to the ball, both are set in motion with a combined momentum that is:_______.

a) less than 2 units.
b) 2 units.
c) more than 2 units.

Answer 1

The combined momentum of the putty and bowling ball after they stick together is 2 units, as momentum is conserved in a closed system with no external forces.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question involves the concept of momentum conservation in the context of a collision. In physics, the law of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system is conserved if no external forces act on it. When the putty, which has 2 units of momentum, strikes and sticks to the heavy bowling ball that is initially at rest, the combined system must have the same total momentum as the initial momentum of the putty alone, assuming we are dealing with an isolated system.

Therefore, after the putty sticks to the bowling ball, both will move with a combined momentum of 2 units. The correct answer is (b) 2 units. If the putty has 2 units of momentum before the collision and there are no external forces, then after the collision the putty plus the bowling ball must also have 2 units of momentum.

Answer 2

The combined momentum will be 2 units.

Step-by-step explanation:

Here a piece of putty moving with 2 units of momentum strikes and sticks to a heavy bowling ball that is initially at rest. After the putty sticks to the ball, both are set in motion with a combined momentum. It is a case of inelastic collision in which the momentum of the system remains conserved.

The law of conservation of momentum will be followed here. So, the combined momentum after collision will be same as the initial momentum. Hence, the correct option is (b) "2 units".