Momentum
Definition
Momentum is a measure of an object's motion and is calculated by multiplying its mass by its velocity. It describes how difficult it is to stop or change the motion of an object.
Analogy
Imagine a soccer ball rolling down a field at high speed. The momentum of the ball would be like the force that you would need to stop it or change its direction. The faster and heavier the ball, the more momentum it has.
Related terms
Impulse: Impulse is the change in momentum of an object and is equal to the force applied multiplied by the time over which it acts.
Conservation of Momentum: This principle states that in a closed system, where no external forces act, the total momentum before an event (such as a collision) is equal to the total momentum after.
Linear Momentum: Linear momentum refers specifically to momentum in one direction, such as along a straight line.
"Momentum" appears in:
Subjects (2)
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