What is the change in the apple's momentum per second that weighs 2.2N and drops for 1.3s?

Answer 1

Momentum = (mass) x (speed)

First, we need to know the apple's mass. We'll do that quickly, and not get hung up on it:

The apple's weight ... 2.2 N ... is M x G, and G = 9.8 m/s2.

So the apple's mass is 2.2/9.8 . Since it doesn't come out even, let's keep it in that form,

to avoid more rounding-error later. When we need the apple's mass, we'll just use 2.2/9.8 .

Now comes the important part. As we mentioned above, Momentum = (mass) x (speed).

When the apple is falling, it's speed is increasing by 9.8 meters per second every second.

That's exactly what the 'acceleration of gravity' means.

If the speed changes 9.8 meters per second each second, and momentum is

(mass) x (speed), then the momentum simply changes (mass) x 9.8 each second.

Momentum change = (2.2/9.8) x 9.8 = 2.2 kilogram meters per second .

Say! That number looks a lot like the apple's weight doesn't it!

Note: We also wound up not caring how long the apple spent falling.

The question asked "How much in each second ?", and that doesn't

depend on how long the experience lasts.