If the total mechanical energy of a particle is zero, is its linear momentum necessarily zero? Is it necessarily nonzero?

Yes, it is possible for the particle to have a non-zero momentum.


Explanation:



Consider the above scenario. The particle is ‘h’ height below the


Earth's surface.


Potential energy, .


Kinetic energy, .


Total energy, .


Let us suppose for some value of height h and velocity v, the total


energy becomes zero. In that case, we have zero total mechanical


energy but non-zero kinetic energy.


Now, non-zero kinetic energy implies that the particle has non-zero


momentum.


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