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Why is a football player's motion barely affected by catching a ball?
AMomentum is not conserved here
BThe ball's momentum is far smaller
CThe ball has no momentum at all
DThe player's mass is far smaller
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. The ball's momentum is far smaller
1. Momentum combines mass and velocity, so a light fast object can still carry little.
2. The momentum of the player is much greater than the momentum of the football.
3. As a result, the player's motion is only slightly affected if he catches the ball.
4. The ball does carry momentum; it is simply small in comparison.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics for AP(R) Courses 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 8 'Linear Momentum and Collisions', sections 8.1-8.7_
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