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?
o it would be the same.
o it would be cut in half
o it would be tripled.
o it would be doubled

Explanation:

Step1: Recall the momentum formula

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

Step2: Analyze the change

Given \(m\) (mass of basketball) remains the same (assuming no mass change). Let initial momentum \(p_1=mv_1\), new momentum \(p_2 = \frac{1}{2}p_1\). Then \(\frac{1}{2}p_1=mv_2\). Substitute \(p_1 = mv_1\) into \(\frac{1}{2}p_1=mv_2\), we get \(\frac{1}{2}(mv_1)=mv_2\). Divide both sides by \(m\) (since \(m
eq0\)), we have \(v_2=\frac{1}{2}v_1\).

Answer:

It would be cut in half.