In an inertial reference frame, what is the momentum of a parked car (at rest) with mass $m$?

• A. $0$
• B. $\frac{1}{2}m{v}^2$
• C. $mv$
• D. $m+v$

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the definition of momentum in classical mechanics: momentum \(\mathbf{p}\) is given by the product of mass \(m\) and velocity \(\mathbf{v}\), expressed as \(\mathbf{p} = m \mathbf{v}\).
2. Identify the velocity of the car in the given inertial reference frame. Since the car is parked (at rest), its velocity \(\mathbf{v}\) is zero, i.e., \(\mathbf{v} = 0\).
3. Substitute the velocity value into the momentum formula: \(\mathbf{p} = m \times 0\).
4. Simplify the expression to find the momentum: \(\mathbf{p} = 0\).
5. Conclude that the momentum of a parked car in an inertial reference frame is zero because momentum depends directly on velocity, which is zero in this case.