A 1.0 kg object moves at 1.0 m/s. What is its momentum?

A 1.0 kg object moves at 1.0 m/s. What is its momentum?

• A. 0.0 kg m/s
• B. 0.5 kg m/s
• C. 1.0 kg m/s
• D. 2.0 kg m/s

Answer: (C)

Momentum is the product of an object's mass and its velocity. So, p = m v. With a mass of 1.0 kg and a velocity of 1.0 m/s, the momentum is p = 1.0 kg × 1.0 m/s = 1.0 kg·m/s. The units kg·m/s reflect kilograms times meters per second. If either mass or velocity were zero, momentum would be zero; larger or smaller values would come from different mass or speed. Therefore, the momentum for this object is 1.0 kg·m/s.

Momentum is the product of an object's mass and its velocity. So, p = m v. With a mass of 1.0 kg and a velocity of 1.0 m/s, the momentum is p = 1.0 kg × 1.0 m/s = 1.0 kg·m/s. The units kg·m/s reflect kilograms times meters per second. If either mass or velocity were zero, momentum would be zero; larger or smaller values would come from different mass or speed. Therefore, the momentum for this object is 1.0 kg·m/s.