Which has more momentum: a 20,000 kg cement truck traveling at 5 m/s or a 1000 kg. race car traveling at 90 m/s?

1 Answer
Apr 6, 2018

The cement truck has a greater momentum.

Explanation:

p_1=m_1v_1 and p_2=m_2v_2. Plugging the values in:

  • p_1=20000kg\cdot 5\frac m s=10\cdot 10^4\frac{mkg}{s}
  • p_2=1000kg\cdot 90\frac m s=9\cdot 10^4\frac{mkg}{s}

So the cement truck has a greater momentum.