Question

a basketball has a mass of 1 kg and is traveling 12 m/s. what would happen to the velocity if the momentum of the basketball were cut in half? it would be cut in half. it would be doubled. it would be tripled. it would be the same.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall the momentum formula

Momentum formula is \(p = mv\) (where \(p\) is momentum, \(m\) is mass, \(v\) is velocity).

Step2: Analyze the relationship when mass is constant

Given \(m\) is constant (\(m = 1\space kg\) here). If \(p\) becomes \(\frac{p}{2}\), from \(p=mv\) and \(\frac{p}{2}=m\times v_{new}\). Substituting \(p = mv\) into \(\frac{p}{2}=m\times v_{new}\), we get \(\frac{mv}{2}=m\times v_{new}\). Canceling out \(m\) (since \(m
eq0\)), we find \(v_{new}=\frac{v}{2}\).

Answer:

It would be cut in half.