Conceptual Physics: The High School Physics Program
Conceptual Physics: The High School Physics Program
9th Edition
ISBN: 9780133647495
Author: Paul G. Hewitt
Publisher: Prentice Hall
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Chapter 16, Problem 1A

What would be the momentum of an object if it were pushed to the speed of light?

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark
To determine

The momentum of an object if it were pushed to the speed of light.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Newton's second law states that rate of change of momentum is proportional to applied force.

Change in momentum of an object is equal to applied impulse. If anyone doubled the impulse, momentum gets doubled.

Momentum equals mass times the velocity.

If the object speed increased to speed of light then its momentum becomes infinite. For this it requires infinite impulse which is practically impossible.

Conclusion:

The momentum of the object becomes infinite when it pushed to the speed of light.

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Chapter 16 Solutions

Conceptual Physics: The High School Physics Program

Ch. 16 - What results when low everyday speeds are used in...Ch. 16 - Do the equations of Newton and Einstein overlap,...Ch. 16 - Prob. 13ACh. 16 - Prob. 14ACh. 16 - What is a geodesic?Ch. 16 - According to general relativity, in what paths do...Ch. 16 - What is the evidence for light bending near the...Ch. 16 - Which runs faster, a clock at the top of the Sears...Ch. 16 - Prob. 19ACh. 16 - Does Einsteins theory of gravitation invalidate...Ch. 16 - Electrons are fired at different speeds through a...Ch. 16 - To an Earth observer, metersticks on three...Ch. 16 - What happens to the momentum of a massive object...Ch. 16 - When a charged particle moves through a magnetic...Ch. 16 - Prob. 25ACh. 16 - Does a fully charged flashlight battery weigh more...Ch. 16 - Two safety pins, identical except that one is...Ch. 16 - A friend says that the equation E=mc2 has...Ch. 16 - Prob. 29ACh. 16 - An astronaut awakes in her closed capsule, which...Ch. 16 - An astronaut is provided 'gravity' when the ships...Ch. 16 - What happens to the separation distance between...Ch. 16 - Your friend whimsically says that at the North...Ch. 16 - We readily note the bending of light by reflection...Ch. 16 - Prob. 35ACh. 16 - Your friend says that light passing the sun is...Ch. 16 - In 2004 when Mercury passed between the sun and...Ch. 16 - During the first second of its flight, a bullet...Ch. 16 - Prob. 39ACh. 16 - Do you age faster at the top of a mountain or at...Ch. 16 - Prob. 41ACh. 16 - Is light emitted from the surface of a massive...Ch. 16 - From our frame of reference on Earth, objects slow...Ch. 16 - Gravitational waves are difficult to detect. Is...Ch. 16 - A 100-watt light bulb consumes 100 joules of...Ch. 16 - Prob. 46ACh. 16 - Prob. 47A
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