Understanding Momentum
* Momentum (p) is a measure of an object's mass in motion. It's calculated as:
* p = mv
* where:
* p is momentum (in kgm/s)
* m is mass (in kg)
* v is velocity (in m/s)
Solving for Velocity
1. Rearrange the momentum equation to solve for velocity:
* v = p / m
2. Plug in the given values:
* v = 20000 kgm/s / 500 kg
3. Calculate the velocity:
* v = 40 m/s
Therefore, the magnitude of the spaceship's velocity is 40 m/s.
