Question

1 momentum is the product of
__________ and velocity.
2 which has more momentum: a sleeping
elephant or a crawling snail?
__________
3 momentum is __________ when
mass is large, speed is large, or both.

Explanation:

Step1: Recall the formula for momentum

The formula for momentum \(p\) is \(p = mv\), where \(m\) is mass and \(v\) is velocity. So for question 1, the blank is mass.

Step2: Analyze the momentum of the two objects in question 2

For a sleeping elephant, \(v = 0\), so \(p= m\times0 = 0\). For a crawling snail, \(m>0\) and \(v>0\), so \(p = mv>0\). So the crawling snail has more momentum.

Step3: Analyze the relationship between momentum, mass and speed

From \(p = mv\), if \(m\) is large, \(v\) is large or both, then \(p\) is large. So for question 3, the blank is large.

Answer:

1. mass
2. A crawling snail
3. large