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.
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)
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.