How to Find Speed with Momentum and Mass

To find speed when you have momentum and mass, you can use the formula that relates these three concepts. The formula for momentum (p) is given by:

p = m × v

Where:

• p = momentum (in kilograms meter per second, kg·m/s)
• m = mass (in kilograms, kg)
• v = velocity or speed (in meters per second, m/s)

If you want to find speed (v), you can rearrange this formula to solve for v:

v = p / m

Here’s how you can apply this formula:

1. Measure or determine the momentum of the object. This is often provided or can be calculated based on the situation.
2. Find out the mass of the object. This is usually easy to measure or given in the problem.
3. Insert the values into the rearranged formula (v = p / m) and calculate the speed.

For example, if an object has a momentum of 10 kg·m/s and a mass of 2 kg, you can find its speed like this:

v = 10 kg·m/s / 2 kg = 5 m/s

This means the speed of the object is 5 meters per second. Understanding this relationship is crucial in physics as it bridges the concepts of mass and motion.