Question

Suppose you catch and hold a baseball, and then someone invites you to catch and hold a bowling ball with either the same momentum or the same kinetic energy as the baseball. Which would you choose

Answer 1

Answer:

The same momentum will be the best option.

Explanation:

Let's recall that the force will be express in terms of the momentum. We can write the force as the variation of the momentum over time.

$F=\frac{dp}{dt}$

This is the force needed to stop the base ball or the bowling ball.

if we will choose the same kinetic energy it would imply an increase of momentum, because of the difference of the masses, and therefore an increase of the force. We do not want this.

Now, if we choose the same momentum the kinetic energy will increase, but the force will the same. We want the less force as possible to stop it, and we have the same at least.

Therefore the same momentum would be the best option.

I hope it helps you!