Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Net momentum refers to the total amount of momentum in a system, taking into account the combined effect of all objects involved. It is calculated by adding up the individual momenta of each object.
Related terms
Initial Momentum: The momentum an object has at the beginning of a given situation.
Final Momentum: The momentum an object has at the end of a given situation.
The principle that states that in an isolated system, where no external forces act, the total momentum before an event is equal to the total momentum after the event.