Which one of the following would have the most momentum- a charging elephant, a jumbo jet sitting on the runway, or a baseball traveling at 100 km/h? Explain.
2007-10-29 15:36:38 · 10 answers · asked by fabulous! 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
momentum = mass * velocity
a charging elephant
mass = 7500 kg
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant )
velocity = elephants may reach 25 km/h
momentum = (7 500 kilograms) * 25 km/h = 52083 m kg / s
a jumbo jet sitting on the runway
velocity = 0
momentum = 0
baseball traveling at 100 km/h
mass = 145 g
http://hypertextbook.com/facts/1999/ChristinaLee.shtml
velocity = 100 km/h
momentum = (145 grams) * 100 km/h = 4.02 m kg / s
The charging elephant wins
2007-10-29 15:45:26 · answer #1 · answered by DanE 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Elephant. By defenition momentum is the mass of an object multiplied by the velocity of that object. First, the sitting jumbo jet has a velocity of 0, so therefore no momentum. The baseball has velocity, more that likely, a lot more than the elephant. However, when multiplied by the mass, the baseball will come up short. The elephant has a large mass, and coupled with the "charging" factor for velocity........let's just say I'd rather step in front of the jet or the baseball.
2007-10-29 22:47:06 · answer #2 · answered by nbharris10 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, the jumbo jet has no momentum. It's huge, but it's just sitting there.
The baseball is going pretty fast, but it's small. A simple leather glove will stop it.
Try stopping a charging elephant. It's too big to stop it easily (unlike the baseball), and it's already moving so it's harder to stop (unlike the jet plane).
2007-10-29 22:40:10 · answer #3 · answered by Sugar Pie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Assuming straight line direction of motion, momentum is mass at a velocity. The typical unit of measure is Kg x M / Sec.
A jumbo jet sitting on a runway has no velocity, therefore no momentum.
A baseball masses maybe 300 grams (0.3Kg)? Using that assumption, at 100Km/hr. it would have a momentum of:
.3Kg x 100,000M / 3600 Sec. = 8.333 Kg M / Sec.
An elephant masses maybe 2000Kg? And charges at maybe 20Km/hr.? That's a momentum of:
2000Kg x 20000M / 3600 Sec. = 11,111 Kg m / Sec.
Looks like the elephant is the winner. Don't get in his way!
2007-10-29 22:52:44 · answer #4 · answered by Christopher C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a jumbo jet because it goes the fastest and weighs the most its all a formula like momentum = weight X speed or something I'm almost positive thats the answer but check your book for the formula
2007-10-29 22:40:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
* Momentum is mass X velocity.
The Jet has no momentum.
A baseball is, what, 0.2 kG? times 0.028 km/sec
A charging elephant is about 5000 kG times , say, 0.014 km/sec.
Baseball = 0.0056
Elephant = 70
2007-10-29 22:45:07 · answer #6 · answered by Bacse 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is the charging elephant because it weighs more and because one of Isaac Newton's laws of physics was whatever is in motion, tends to stay in motion.
Hope this helped!
2007-10-29 22:42:21 · answer #7 · answered by Whateva 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a charging elephant?
2007-10-29 22:38:50 · answer #8 · answered by Bella 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
look in your book
its definitly not the plane
2007-10-29 22:38:30 · answer #9 · answered by jo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
elpehant
2007-10-29 22:44:20 · answer #10 · answered by >_> 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋