What momentum does a 3 kg cat have sitting on a windowsill at a height of 15 meters? - briefly
Momentum is defined as the product of an object's mass and velocity. A 3 kg cat sitting on a windowsill at a height of 15 meters has zero momentum because it is at rest.
What momentum does a 3 kg cat have sitting on a windowsill at a height of 15 meters? - in detail
To determine the momentum of a 3 kg cat sitting on a windowsill at a height of 15 meters, it is essential to understand the fundamental principles of momentum in physics. Momentum is a vector quantity that is defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity. Since the cat is sitting stationary on the windowsill, its velocity is zero. Therefore, the momentum of the cat in this scenario is calculated as follows:
Mass of the cat = 3 kg Velocity of the cat = 0 m/s (since the cat is not moving)
Momentum (p) is given by the formula: [ p = m \times v ] where ( m ) is the mass and ( v ) is the velocity.
Substituting the given values: [ p = 3 \, \text{kg} \times 0 \, \text{m/s} = 0 \, \text{kg} \cdot \text{m/s} ]
Thus, the momentum of the 3 kg cat sitting on the windowsill is zero. This result is straightforward because momentum requires motion, and the cat is not moving.
It is important to note that height does not directly affect momentum. Momentum is solely dependent on mass and velocity. However, height can be relevant when considering potential energy, which is the energy possessed by an object due to its position. The potential energy of the cat at a height of 15 meters can be calculated using the formula for gravitational potential energy: [ PE = m \times g \times h ] where ( m ) is the mass, ( g ) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately ( 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 )), and ( h ) is the height.
Substituting the given values: [ PE = 3 \, \text{kg} \times 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \times 15 \, \text{m} = 441 \, \text{J} ]
This potential energy indicates the energy the cat would have if it were to fall from the windowsill, converting potential energy into kinetic energy as it gains velocity. However, this does not change the fact that the cat's momentum while sitting stationary is zero.