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Ch 11: Impulse and Momentum
Chapter 11, Problem 11

At what speed do a bicycle and its rider, with a combined mass of 100 kg, have the same momentum as a 1500 kg car traveling at 5.0 m/s?

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Identify the given values: mass of the bicycle and rider combined (m1) = 100 kg, mass of the car (m2) = 1500 kg, and speed of the car (v2) = 5.0 m/s.
Understand that momentum (p) is calculated by the formula p = mass × velocity. For the car, its momentum can be calculated as p2 = m2 × v2.
Set the momentum of the bicycle and its rider equal to the momentum of the car to find the speed of the bicycle and rider. Use the equation m1 × v1 = m2 × v2, where v1 is the speed of the bicycle and rider.
Solve for v1 by rearranging the equation to v1 = (m2 × v2) / m1.
Substitute the values of m1, m2, and v2 into the equation to find v1, which is the speed of the bicycle and its rider.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Momentum

Momentum is a vector quantity defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity. It is expressed mathematically as p = mv, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity. Momentum is conserved in isolated systems, meaning that the total momentum before an event must equal the total momentum after, making it a crucial concept in analyzing collisions and interactions.
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Mass

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, typically measured in kilograms. It is a scalar quantity and does not change regardless of the object's location in the universe. In the context of momentum, mass directly influences the momentum of an object; a greater mass results in greater momentum for the same velocity.
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Velocity

Velocity is a vector quantity that describes the rate of change of an object's position with respect to time, incorporating both speed and direction. It is crucial in calculating momentum, as momentum depends on both the mass of an object and its velocity. Understanding velocity allows us to determine how fast an object is moving and in which direction, which is essential for comparing different moving objects.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
FIGURE EX11.6 is an incomplete momentum bar chart for a collision that lasts 10 ms. What are the magnitude and direction of the average collision force exerted on the object?

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