Question

If two people, mass of 70 kg and 85 kg respectively, approach each other with speeds of 4 m/s and 7 m/s, what is the total momentum of the two person system? Give the momentum of each and then the total momentum.

Answer 1

Answer:

a. Momentum A = 280 Kgm/s.  

b. Momentum B = 595 Kgm/s.

c. Total momentum = 875 Kgm/s.

Explanation:

Let the two people be A and B respectively.

Given the following data;

Mass A = 70kg

Mass B = 85kg

Velocity A = 4m/s

Velocity B = 7m/s

Momentum can be defined as the multiplication (product) of the mass possessed by an object and its velocity. Momentum is considered to be a vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction.

Mathematically, momentum is given by the formula;

$Momentum = mass * velocity$

a. To find the momentum of A;

$Momentum \; A = 70 * 4$

Momentum A = 280 Kgm/s.

b. To find the momentum of B;

$Momentum \; B = 85 * 7$

Momentum B = 595 Kgm/s.

c. To find the total momentum of the two persons;

$Total \; momentum = Momentum \; A + Momentum \; B$

Substituting into the equation, we have;

$Total momentum = 280 + 595$

Total momentum = 875 Kgm/s.