Question

Which has more momentum, a `"3 kg"` object moving at `"2 m/s"` or a `"5 kg"` object moving at `"9 m/s"`?

Answer 1

Well, this is just evaluating your ability to remember the momentum equation:

`p = mv`
where `p` is momentum, `m` is mass in `"kg"`, and `v` is velocity in `"m/s"`.

So, plug and chug.

`p_1 = m_1v_1 = (3)(2) = "6 kg"*"m/s"`

`p_2 = m_2v_2 = (5)(9) = "45 kg"*"m/s"`

CHALLENGE: What if these two objects were cars with well-lubricated wheels on a frictionless surface, and they collided head-on in a perfectly elastic collision? Which one would move in which direction?