Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Which one would have more momentum a 50 kg baseball player or a 25 kg figure skater traveling west? thanks!

scienceuser12,

Thank you for your question and welcome to the forum.

Momentum is a vector quantity that includes the velocity of an object, meaning an objects change of position over time is important.

The equation is: momentum (kg*m/s) = mass (kg) * velocity (m/s)

The 50kg ball player has no movement in any direction, therefore no velocity and therefore momentum = 0 (50kg * 0m/s = 0kg*m/s). The 25kg ice skater has a direction of travel therefor a non-zero velocity in that direction, giving the ice skater a non-zero momentum greater than the ball player.

Thank you so much, very helpful

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(I know you received this same information from a moderator in response to the other question you posted.)

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