SP2f Momentum

Question 1

Describe the factors that affect the momentum of an object.

Answer 1

the mass of the object and its velocity (or speed).

Question 2

Calculate the momentum of moving objects.

Answer 2

In terms of an equation, the momentum of an object is equal to the mass of the object times the velocity of the object.

Question 3

Describe examples of momentum in collisions.

Answer 3

Conservation of momentum explains why a gun or cannon recoils backwards when it is fired. When a cannon is fired, the cannon ball gains forward momentum and the cannon gains backward momentum. Before the cannon is fired (the ‘event’), the total momentum is zero.

Question 4

Caluclate the force needed to produce a change in momentum in a given time

Answer 4

Multiply the acceleration by the time for which the force acts. If the force acts, for instance, for 5 seconds: 50 × 5 = 250.