The momentum of a moving object will increase in the following situation:
- A force acting in the direction opposite the object's motion is removed from the object.
To understand why, let's recall the formula for momentum: momentum = mass x velocity. Momentum is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. The direction of momentum is the same as the direction of the object's velocity.
When a force acts in the direction opposite the object's motion, it causes a decrease in the object's velocity, therefore reducing its momentum. Removing this force means there is no longer a opposing force slowing down the object, allowing it to accelerate and increase its velocity. As momentum is directly proportional to velocity, an increase in velocity will result in an increase in momentum.
Therefore, when a force acting in the direction opposite the object's motion is removed from the object, the momentum of the object increases.