Question

A 2.0 kg cart has a momentum of 10.0 kg m/s. What is its velocity?

Answer 1

Answer:

$\boxed {\boxed {\sf C. \ 5.0 \ m/s}}$

Explanation:

Momentum is the product of mass and velocity. The formula is:

$p=mv$

The mass of the cart is 2.0 kilograms. The momentum is 10.0 kg m/s. The velocity is unknown.

$m= 2.0 \ kg \\p= 10.0 \ kg \ m/s$

Substitute the values into the formula.

$10.0 \ kg \ m/s= (2.0 \ kg ) v$

We want to solve for the velocity (v). Therefore we must isolate the variable. It is being multiplied and the inverse of multiplication is division. Divide both sides of the equation by 2.0 kg.

$\frac { 10.0 \ kg \ m/s}{2.0 \ kg}=\frac{(2.0 \ kg )v}{2.0 \ kg}$

The kilograms will cancel each other out.

$\frac { 10.0 \ m/s}{2.0}=v$

$5.0 \ m/s=v$

The velocity is 5 meters per second.