Physics

Physics

Problem

A puck of mass 200 g200\,\text{g} slides on ice with velocity components vx=3 m s−1v_x = 3\,\text{m}\,\text{s}^{-1} and vy=4 m s−1v_y = 4\,\text{m}\,\text{s}^{-1}. Calculate: (i) the xx-component of its momentum, (ii) the magnitude of its resultant momentum.
Intuitive explanation

Momentum is just mass times velocity—but here the puck moves in two dimensions, so you need to treat each direction separately and then combine them. Calculate the momentum component in each direction using p=mvp = mv, then use the Pythagorean theorem to find the total momentum magnitude, just as you would for any 2D vector.

Intuitive explanation

Momentum is just mass times velocity—but here the puck moves in two dimensions, so you need to treat each direction separately and then combine them. Calculate the momentum component in each direction using p=mvp = mv, then use the Pythagorean theorem to find the total momentum magnitude, just as you would for any 2D vector.

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