Momentum Calculator
Calculate linear momentum using mass and velocity
Calculate Momentum
Mass of the object
Velocity of the object
Results
Physics Formula
Momentum: p = m × v
Calculation: 65.00 kg × 2.00 m/s = 130.00 kg⋅m/s
Physics Analysis
Example: Dump Truck Analysis
Problem Setup
Scenario: An empty dump truck weighs 12 tonnes and travels at 35 mph
Given: m = 12 t, v = 35 mph
Question: What is its momentum?
Solution Steps
1. Convert to SI units: m = 12,000 kg, v = 15.65 m/s
2. Apply momentum formula: p = m × v
3. Calculate: p = 12,000 kg × 15.65 m/s = 187,800 kg⋅m/s
4. Convert to N⋅s: p = 187.8 kN⋅s
Result: The truck has tremendous momentum due to its large mass!
Real-World Examples
Person Jogging
Average person jogging
Dump Truck Empty
Empty dump truck at 35 mph
Charging Elephant
Elephant charging
Baseball Throw
Professional baseball pitch
Key Physics Concepts
Linear Momentum
Product of mass and velocity (p = mv)
Vector Quantity
Has both magnitude and direction
Conservation
Total momentum conserved in isolated systems
Force Relation
F = dp/dt (Newton's Second Law)
Essential Formulas
Basic Momentum
p = m × v
Mass times velocity
Vector Magnitude
|p⃗| = m√(vₓ² + vᵧ² + vᵤ²)
3D momentum magnitude
Impulse-Momentum
J = Δp = F × Δt
Change in momentum
Conservation Law
Σp_initial = Σp_final
In isolated systems
Understanding Momentum in Physics
What is Momentum?
Linear momentum is a fundamental concept in physics that describes the motion of objects. It's the product of an object's mass and velocity, representing how much force is needed to stop the object.
Units and Measurements
The SI unit for momentum is kg⋅m/s, which is equivalent to N⋅s (Newton-seconds). This relationship comes from Newton's second law of motion.
Key Properties
Vector Nature
Momentum has both magnitude and direction
Conservation
Total momentum is conserved in isolated systems
Additive
System momentum is sum of individual momenta
Mass Dependence
Heavier objects have greater momentum at same speed
Real-World Applications
Vehicle Safety
Airbags and crumple zones extend collision time
Sports
Baseball bats, golf clubs transfer momentum
Space Travel
Rocket propulsion uses momentum conservation
Collisions
Billiards, particle physics experiments
Related Physics Concepts
Impulse
Change in momentum over time
Kinetic Energy
Related but different: KE = ½mv²
Angular Momentum
Rotational equivalent of linear momentum
Newton's Laws
F = dp/dt connects force and momentum