A light and a heavy body have equal kinetic energy. Which has greater ...
Light vs Heavy Body: Momentum Comparison
In this scenario, where a light body and a heavy body have equal kinetic energy, we need to determine which one has greater momentum.
Definition of Momentum
Momentum is the product of an object's mass and its velocity. Mathematically, momentum (p) is given by the formula p = m * v, where m is the mass of the object and v is its velocity.
Analysis of Light Body
For the light body, since it has equal kinetic energy as the heavy body, its velocity must be greater than that of the heavy body due to the inverse relationship between mass and velocity in the kinetic energy equation (KE = 0.5 * m * v^2).
Analysis of Heavy Body
On the other hand, the heavy body has a larger mass compared to the light body, which means that even though its velocity is smaller, the mass compensates for it in terms of momentum.
Conclusion
In this case, the heavy body would have greater momentum compared to the light body, despite both having equal kinetic energy. This is because momentum takes into account both mass and velocity, and in this scenario, the heavy body's larger mass outweighs the light body's greater velocity.