Question

If the velocity of a moving object decreases from 60 m/s to 30 m/s, what happens to its momentum?

Answer 1

Hello!

momentum is p=mv so if the velocity is decreased by a factor of 2, which is 1/2 the value, then the momentum of that object will decrease by the same factorial.

Hope this helps, any questions please ask. Thank you!

Answer 2

Qualitatively the momentum is the amount of motion contained in the body.

Quantitatively momentum is the product of mass and velocity of the body.

Mathematically momentum= mass×velocity

                                       i.e p=m×v

where p denotes the momentum.

As per the question the initial velocity of the particle is given as [u]=60 m/s

The final velocity of the particle is given as [v]=30 m/s

Let the mass of the particle is m kg

The initial momentum $p_{1} =m*u$

                                                  =60m kg m/s

the final momentum $p_{2} =m*v$

                                                   =30m kg m/s

Hence the change in momentum is given as -

                                   $p_{2} -p_{1} =[30m -60m] kg m/s$

                                                              = -30m kg m/s

Here the minus sign indicates the loss of momentum

Hence the momentum is decreased by twice as the velocity is decreased by twice.

In general if velocity is decreased by m times ,then the momentum is decreased by m times also.