Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

Which has more momentum and, or kinetic energy, a 1000kg Volkswagen at 40.0 meters per second or a 4000kg Explorer at 10 meters per second ?

  1. Same momentum, Volkswagen has more kinetic energy

  2. Explorer all the way

  3. Same momentum, same kinetic energy

  4. Volkswagen all the way
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Both vehicles have the same momentum: p = mv = 1000 × 40 = 40,000 kg·m/s for the VW and p = 4000 × 10 = 40,000 kg·m/s for the Explorer. However, kinetic energy depends on velocity squared (KE = 1/2 mv²). The VW has 800,000 J while the Explorer has only 200,000 J, so the VW has much more kinetic energy despite equal momentum.

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