Question

Which of the following has the most momentum? proton (m=1.67 x 10-27 kg) moving at 2.0 x 104 m/s,an electron (m=9.11 x 10-31 kg) moving at 2.0 x 106 m/s, a common house fly (m=12 mg) moving at 2.0 m/s, North American tectonic plate (m≈5x1022 kg) moving at 3.0x10-10 m/s (about 1cm/yr)

Answer 1

Answer:

The North American tectonic plate.

Explanation:

recall the formula for momentum: p = m * v

the subatomic particles have very small masses while high speeds, so the product results in values with negative exponents in scientific notation.

Negative exponents also result for the house fly when converting mg into kg (10^-6).

The positive exponents in scientific notation for the momentum come for the gigantic mass of the continental plate which exceeds the negative exponents contributed by the small velocity.