Topic: Engineering Mechanics
If two bodies one light and other heavy have equal kinetic energies, which one has a greater momentum
- A. Heavy body
- B. Light body
- C. Both have equal momentum
- D. It depends on the actual velocities
Answer: A. Heavy body
Explanation: Kinetic energy $KE = \frac{p^{2}}{2m}$, where p is momentum. Thus, $p = \sqrt{2m(KE)}$. If the kinetic energies are equal, $p \propto \sqrt{m}$. Therefore, the body with the greater mass (heavy body) will have the greater momentum.