At the highest point of its trajectory, the momentum of a body is zero because velocity becomes zero while mass stays the same.
What is the momentum of a body of mass 2Kg at its highest point?
At the highest point, the momentum of a 2 kg body is 0 kg·m/s since vertical velocity disappears.
Momentum equals mass times velocity (p = m × v). When a body reaches its peak during straight-up motion, the upward speed drops to nothing. Even if it was launched at an angle, only the vertical speed vanishes—horizontal speed remains. For a straight vertical throw, both speed and momentum hit zero at the top.
What is the momentum of highest point when a body is thrown upwards?
The momentum at the highest point of a vertically thrown body is zero because velocity is zero for that instant.
Momentum depends on velocity, which is a vector. Gravity steadily reduces upward speed until the object stops completely at the peak. That brief moment of stillness is when momentum vanishes before reversing during the fall. You can almost picture it hanging there—no motion, no momentum.
What is the momentum of a body of 2 kg at its highest point when thrown with a velocity of 15 m/s at an angle of 70° with the horizontal?
At the highest point, the momentum of the 2 kg body is 9.23 kg·m/s horizontally—the vertical component is gone.
When you toss something at an angle, break the velocity into parts. Here, horizontal speed (v_x = 15 × cos70° ≈ 5.13 m/s) keeps going, while vertical speed (v_y = 15 × sin70° ≈ 14.1 m/s) stops at the top. So momentum is just mass times horizontal speed: 2 × 5.13 ≈ 9.23 kg·m/s. Air resistance aside, this horizontal momentum stays the same the whole flight.
What is the highest point of motion?
The highest point of motion, or apex, is where the vertical velocity becomes zero during projectile motion.
This is the exact moment the object stops climbing and starts dropping. You can work out the height using v² = u² − 2gh, where v = 0 at the top. How high it goes depends on how fast it was launched and at what angle. To understand how forces affect this motion, you might want to explore angular momentum conservation in rotational systems.
What would be the momentum at the highest point of its flight?
Momentum at the highest point of flight is zero for vertical motion, or a steady horizontal value for angled motion.
If you throw something straight up, both up and down speeds hit zero at the peak. But if you launch at an angle, only the vertical part stops—horizontal speed (and momentum) keeps going because nothing pushes sideways. So momentum isn’t always zero; it depends on how you throw it. For more on directional differences in momentum, see whether momentum is the same in both directions.
Can momentum be created?
No, momentum cannot be created or destroyed—it’s conserved in a closed system.
That’s the law of conservation of momentum, a basic rule in physics. Forces can shuffle momentum between objects (imagine a bat hitting a ball), but the total stays the same if no outside forces interfere. Picture two billiard balls colliding: one slows down, the other speeds up, but the total momentum before and after stays identical. If you're curious about exceptions to this rule, check out why momentum isn't always conserved.
What is momentum unit?
The SI unit of momentum is the kilogram meter per second (kg·m/s).
Since momentum is mass (kilograms) times velocity (meters per second), the unit combines both. In imperial units, you might see slug·ft/s instead. A 1 kg object moving at 2 m/s, for example, has a momentum of 2 kg·m/s.
Which of the following is unit of momentum?
The SI unit of momentum is kilogram meter per second (kg·m/s).
| Property | Symbol | Unit |
|---|
| Momentum | p | kg·m/s (SI), slug·ft/s (imperial) |
| Conserved? | Yes | If no external forces act |
What is the value of gravitation potential energy of the body of mass 2 kg which is projected vertically upwards with a speed of 3 m/s?
The gravitational potential energy at launch is 9 J, assuming g = 9.8 m/s².
Gravitational potential energy (GPE) is mgh, but at launch you can treat it as the kinetic energy it started with: KE = ½mv² = 0.5 × 2 × 3² = 9 J. At the top, this kinetic energy turns entirely into GPE. Just remember GPE depends on height, so we’re assuming the launch point is where h = 0.
How is projectile motion used in real life?
Projectile motion is used in sports like basketball, football, and javelin to optimize trajectories.
Athletes instinctively tweak angles and speeds to hit the perfect shot or throw. Engineers apply the same math to everything from artillery shells to decorative water fountains. Even tossing a water balloon without a mess relies on getting the angle and speed just right. For deeper insights into rotational aspects of motion, consider reading about calculating angular momentum from torque.
Why is velocity 0 at maximum height?
Velocity is zero at maximum height because the object momentarily stops before falling under gravity.
Gravity steadily slows the object on the way up until its upward speed reaches zero. That’s the exact turning point of the motion. On the way down, gravity speeds it up from zero again. In a uniform gravitational field, the time going up matches the time coming down.
How do you determine the highest point?
You determine the highest point using the equation v² = u² − 2gh, where v = 0 at the peak.
- For straight-up motion: h_max = (v₀²) / (2g)
- For angled motion: h_max = (v₀² sin²θ) / (2g)
- Plug in the starting speed (v₀), angle (θ), and g = 9.8 m/s² to find the height.
Is there momentum in space?
There is no net momentum in a closed system in space unless acted upon by an external force.
Momentum still exists locally—for example, a spinning asteroid has angular momentum. But in a system like a rocket and its exhaust, the total momentum stays zero if it started at rest. Rockets move by pushing mass backward, gaining forward momentum (Newton’s third law). Out in deep space, with no external forces, the total momentum never changes. To explore related concepts, you might find angular momentum properties interesting.
How do you find initial momentum?
Initial momentum is calculated as p = m × v, where m is mass and v is initial velocity.
This comes straight from Newton’s laws. Measure the object’s mass and its speed at the very start. A 5 kg ball rolling at 4 m/s, for instance, starts with 20 kg·m/s of momentum. You can rearrange the formula to find mass or speed if you know the other two values.
What will be the initial momentum?
The initial momentum is the product of the object’s mass and its starting velocity.
It’s a snapshot of motion at time zero. A 3 kg cart starting to roll at 2 m/s, for example, has an initial momentum of 6 kg·m/s. This number is essential for predicting how the object will move later using conservation laws. Any change in momentum (called impulse) comes from outside forces acting over time.
What is the momentum of a body of 2 kg at its highest point when thrown with a velocity of 15 m/s at an angle of of 70o with the horizontal?
At the highest point, the momentum of the 2 kg body is 9.23 kg·m/s horizontally—the vertical component is zero.
What is the value of gravitation potential energy of the body of mass 2 kg which is projected vertically upwards with a speed of 3 m s?
The gravitational potential energy at launch is 9 J, assuming g = 9.8 m/s².
