Question

The graphs below show the net force applied to two different objects (one blue and one purple) along a straight line over the same time period. How do the changes in momentum compare for these two objects?

• A. The purple object's momentum changes slightly more than the blue object's momentum
• B. The purple object's momentum changes about twice as much as the blue object's momentum
• C. The blue object's momentum changes slightly more than the purple object's momentum
• D. The blue object's momentum changes about twice as much as the purple object's momentum
• E. We cannot determine how much the momentum of either changes without knowing the masses of the objects and their velocity changes

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

The blue object's momentum changes about twice as much as the purple object's momentum

Change in momentum in F-t graph is equal to the area under the F-t graph.

Here from the figure, it is clear that the area covered by blue line is double than that covered by purple line. So, momentum change is double for blue line.