The total momentum of a system of two moving identical bodies is zero. What should be true about the velocities of the bodies?(1 point)

Question

Responses

Both velocities should be zero.
Both velocities should be zero.

Both velocities should be different in magnitude and direction
Both velocities should be different in magnitude and direction

The velocities should be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.
The velocities should be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

The velocities should be equal in direction and opposite in magnitude.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

The velocities should be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

This is because the total momentum of a system of two bodies is given by the sum of their individual momenta. For two identical bodies, if the total momentum is zero, the momentum of one body must be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the momentum of the other body. Since momentum is given by the mass times velocity, and the masses are equal, their velocities must be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to ensure that the total momentum sums to zero.