Question

A student performs a lab measuring the velocities of toy cars of different masses.

A 3 column table with 5 rows. Column 1 is labeled Car with entries Car 1, Car 2, Car 3, Car 4, Car 5. Column 2 is labeled Mass in kilograms with entries 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7. Column 3 is labeled Velocity in meters per second with entries 2.2, 2, 1.35, 1.90, 1.35.
Which cars have the same magnitude of momentum? Check all that apply.

car 1
car 2
car 3
car 4
car 5

Answer 1

Car 1 and Car 2.

Calculations:
- Car 1: p = 5 kg × 2.2 m/s = 11 kg·m/s
- Car 2: p = 5.5 kg × 2.0 m/s = 11 kg·m/s

The others have different momenta (Car 3: 8.1, Car 4: 12.35, Car 5: 9.45 kg·m/s).