A ping pong ball and a bowling ball are moving with the same momentum. Which has the greater kinetic energy?
A) The ping pong ball
B) The bowling ball

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The kinetic energy (KE) of an object is given by the formula KE = 1/2 mv^2, where m is the mass and v is the velocity of the object. For two objects with the same momentum (p = mv), the object with the smaller mass (like the ping pong ball) must have a higher velocity to have the same momentum as the object with a larger mass (like the bowling ball). Since kinetic energy depends on the square of the velocity, the ping pong ball, with its higher velocity, will have greater kinetic energy than the bowling ball.

A Ping Pong Ball and a Bowling Ball Are Moving