Question

If the same force is applied on two bodies of different masses for the same time, what happens to the momentum of the two bodies?

• A. The momenta increases
• B. The momenta decreases
• C. The momenta remains the same
• D. The momenta may increase or decrease

Answer 1

The correct option is C The momenta remains the same

By Newton’s second law of motion.$F\to =dp\to dt$. If the force acts for a very short duration dtdt, say, then the change in momentum .$dp\to =dp\to dtdt=F\to dt$, from the previous equation. Since the two objects are being acted by the same force for the same amount of time, from the above equation, the change in momentum is the same for both objects. If the momenta of the objects were equal before the application of the force, then the momenta of the objects are equal after the force is applied and then withdrawn.