A cricket ball (Object P) has a mass of and is thrown horizontally with a speed of
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
A cricket ball (Object P) has a mass of 0.50kg and is thrown horizontally with a speed of 10ms−1. A basketball (Object Q) has a mass of 0.60kg. Answer the questions that follow.
(i) Calculate the momentum of Object P.
(ii) Find the speed with which Object Q must be thrown so that its momentum is equal to that of Object P.
(iii) Between Objects P and Q (moving with the speed found in part (ii)), which has greater inertia? State the reason clearly.
(iv) If the speed of Object Q found in part (ii) is doubled, compute its new momentum and compare it with the momentum of Object P. What conclusion can you draw regarding the role of velocity in momentum when mass is fixed?