Here's why:
* Momentum is the product of an object's mass and velocity: momentum = mass × velocity
* If the mass decreases, and the velocity stays the same, the product (momentum) will inevitably decrease.
Example:
Imagine a car with a certain mass traveling at a constant speed. If you remove some weight from the car (decreasing its mass), it will have less momentum even if it maintains the same speed.
Important Note: This assumes velocity stays constant. If the velocity changes, the effect on momentum would be more complex, as both mass and velocity contribute to momentum.
