Which of the following objects has the least $p$ (momentum)?

• A. A moving tennis ball
• B. A running dog
• C. A stationary bowling ball
• D. A rolling bicycle

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that momentum \(p\) is defined as the product of an object's mass \(m\) and its velocity \(v\), given by the formula: \[p = m \times v\]
2. Analyze each object in terms of its velocity: a moving tennis ball, a running dog, a rolling bicycle all have some velocity greater than zero, while a stationary bowling ball has zero velocity.
3. Since momentum depends directly on velocity, an object at rest (velocity \(v = 0\)) will have zero momentum regardless of its mass.
4. Therefore, the stationary bowling ball has the least momentum because its velocity is zero, making its momentum \(p = m \times 0 = 0\).
5. Conclude that among the given options, the stationary bowling ball has the least momentum.