Same Momentum, But Who Has More Kinetic Energy?

A light body and a heavy body have the same momentum.

Which of the two bodies will have greater kinetic energy?

Light body Heavy body

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5 solutions

Rishabh Jain
Jan 23, 2016

K = p 2 2 m 1 m \huge K=\dfrac{p^2}{2m}∝\color{forestgreen}{\dfrac{1}{m}} Hence body with lighter mass will have greater K.E . \color{goldenrod}{\text{Hence body with lighter mass will have greater K.E .}}

I want to know what the symbol 'alpha' stands for in this case, please. Thanks"

Heitor Vinícius - 5 years, 4 months ago

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proportional to..

Rishabh Jain - 5 years, 4 months ago

To clarify to those who still don't understand(to include myself) momentum is not the same as speed. If they had the same speed the greater mass would have had more energy.

John Reed - 5 years, 4 months ago

let's do this: take k and instead of taking it to y. we have to add y. then we have I = y. turn I upside down and you get y!

Am Kemplin - 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Ratul Pan
Jan 23, 2016

Let M be the mass of heavier body and m be the mass of lighter body.
and V be the velocity of heavier body and v be the mass of lighter body.
So, MV=mv...........(V<v)
V v = m M \frac{V}{v}=\frac{m}{M}


So, kinetic energy of heavier body= M V 2 2 \frac{MV^2}{2}

So, kinetic energy of lighter body= m v 2 2 \frac{mv^2}{2}

Ratio between heavier to lower= M m 2 m M 2 = m M \frac{Mm^2}{mM^2} = \frac{m}{M}

As m M \frac{m}{M} <1 , so lighter object has greater K.E.

Akhil Bansal
Jan 23, 2016

KE = p 2 2 m \large \text{KE} = \dfrac{\text{p}^2}{2\text{m}} KE 1 m \large \text{KE} \propto \dfrac{1}{\text{m}} K.E lighter body > K.E heavier body \large \text{K.E}_{\text{ lighter body}} > \text{K.E}_{\text{heavier body}}

James Benham
Feb 18, 2016

momentum is linked with force, which is turn is directly proportional to mass F=ma Therefore, more mass, same momentum, slower acceleration.

kinetic energy is linked with Work, which in turn is directly proportional to displacement W=Fd Therefore, slower acceleration, less work, less kinetic energy.

Therefore the heavy object has less kinetic energy than the light object when they have the same momentum.

Jonathan Yang
Jan 24, 2016

It is obvious :)

it is obvious :)

Am Kemplin - 1 month, 3 weeks ago

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