Momentum word problems

The momentum word problems will use the formula you see below when calculating the momentum. 

momentum = mv

m is the mass and v is the velocity or speed.

The mass must be in kg and the speed must be in m/s or meter per second.

Word Problem # 1:

Calculate the momentum when a 10-kg object move with a speed of 5 m/s

Solution:

momentum = 10 kg × 5 m/s = 50 kg.m/s

Challenging momentum word problems

Word Problem #2:

The momentum of a bus with a mass of 10000 kg is 200000 kg.m/s. How far can bus go if the bus maintain the same speed for 5 minutes and then stop?

Solution:

First, we need to find the speed of the bus by using the formula

momentum = mass × v

200000  = 10000 × v

Since 10000 × 20 = 200000, v = 20

The speed of the bus is 20 m/s

If the car does 20 meters per second, it will do 20 × 60 meters = 1200 meters in 1 minute. 

If the car does 1200 meters in 1 minute, it will 1200 × 5 meters = 6000 meters in 5 minutes.

6000 meters  = 6 kilometers = 3.73 miles

The bus will do about 3.73 miles before it stops.

Word Problem # 3:

A 200-kg man moving with a speed of 1 meter per second has the same momentum as a smart car moving with a speed of 0.25 m/s. How much does the smart car weight in pounds?

Solution:

The momentum of the 200-kg man is 200 kg × 1 m/s = 200 kg.m/s

The momentum of the smart car is mass × 0.25 m/s

Since the momentum of the man is equal to the momentum of the smart car, we get

200 kg.m/s = mass × 0.25 m/s

mass =
200 kg.m/s / 0.25 m/s

mass = 800 kg

The weight in pound is 800 kg × 2.2 = 1760 pounds

Word Problem # 4:

A man with a mass of 100 kg has a momentum of 200 kg.m/s. He decides now to wear a backpack that has a weight of 25 kg to challenge himself. If he can keep up the same speed when he is wearing the backpack, by how much will his momentum increase?

Solution:

Momentum = mass × speed

200  = 100 × speed

Since 100 times 2 = 200, speed  = 2 m/s

Now the total mass is 100 kg + 25 kg = 125 kg.

If he can still run with the same speed of 2 m/s, his momentum is 

125 kg × 2 m/s = 250 kg.m/s

His momentum is increase by 50 kg.m/s  (250 kg.ms - 200 kg.m/s)

Hopefully, the momentum word problems on this page really helped you to see how to calculate the momentum. 

Recent Articles

  1. How To Find The Factors Of 20: A Simple Way

    Sep 17, 23 09:46 AM

    Positive factors of 20
    There are many ways to find the factors of 20. A simple way is to...

    Read More

  2. The SAT Math Test: How To Be Prepared To Face It And Survive

    Jun 09, 23 12:04 PM

    SAT math
    The SAT Math section is known for being difficult. But it doesn’t have to be. Learn how to be prepared and complete the section with confidence here.

    Read More

Tough algebra word problems

100 Tough Algebra Word Problems.

If you can solve these problems with no help, you must be a genius!

Math quizzes

 Recommended

Math vocabulary quizzes