Momentum Calculator

Our velocity calculator can help if you don’t know the velocity needed to calculate the linear momentum. One advantage of plastics is their lighter weight, which results in better gas mileage. Another advantage is that a car will crumple in a collision, especially in the event of a head-on collision. A longer collision time means the force on the occupants how do you calculate a payback period of the car will be less.

Momentum is a physics term; it refers to the quantity of motion that an object has. If an object is in motion (on the move) then it has momentum. Our linear momentum calculator physics tool helps you calculate the magnitude of the momentum of an object in linear motion. You can see from the equation that momentum is directly proportional to the object’s mass (m) and velocity (v). Therefore, the greater an object’s mass or the greater its velocity, the greater its momentum.

FnetΔtFnetΔtis known as impulse and this equation is known as the impulse-momentum theorem. From the equation, we see that the impulse equals the average net external force multiplied by the time this force acts. The effect of a force on an object depends on how long it acts, as well as the strength of the force. Impulse is a useful concept because it quantifies the effect of a force.

While the kg•m/s is the standard metric unit of momentum, there are a variety of other units that are acceptable (though not conventional) units of momentum. In each of these examples, a mass unit is multiplied by a velocity unit to provide a momentum unit. Momentum is so important for understanding motion that it was called the quantity of motion by physicists such as Newton. Force influences momentum, and we can rearrange Newton’s second law of motion to show the relationship between force and momentum. Momentum is the product of an object’s mass and velocity.

Modern Physics

As a vector quantity, the momentum of an object is fully described by both magnitude and direction. From the definition of momentum, it becomes obvious that an object has a large momentum if both its mass and its velocity are large. Both variables are of equal importance in determining the momentum of an object. Consider a Mack truck and a roller skate moving down the street at the same speed. The considerably greater mass of the Mack truck gives it a considerably greater momentum. Yet if the Mack truck were at rest, then the momentum of the least massive roller skate would be the greatest.

Section Learning Objectives

This post will explain what momentum is, the equation for momentum, and how to calculate momentum. The momentum equation can help us to think about how a change in one of the two variables might affect the momentum of an object. Consider a 0.5-kg physics cart loaded with one 0.5-kg brick and moving with a speed of 2.0 m/s. The total mass of loaded cart is 1.0 kg and its momentum is 2.0 kg•m/s. If the cart was instead loaded with three 0.5-kg bricks, then the total mass of the loaded cart would be 2.0 kg and its momentum would be 4.0 kg•m/s.

Momentum is a term you’ve likely heard used in everyday language that also has a special meaning in physics. When a sports team is described as having “momentum”, you know that the team is on a winning streak and hard to stop. Momentum in physics has a similar but more precise meaning.

Calculating Force: Venus Williams’ Racquet

You may have heard the advice to bend your knees when jumping. In this example, a friend dares you to jump off of a park bench onto the ground without bending your knees. Explain to your friend why this would be a foolish thing. Use the Check Your Understanding questions to assess whether students master the learning objectives of this section.

You also can use the advanced mode to find momentum in two or three dimensions. If you decide to do it, check Omni Calculator’s momentum calculator, which comprehensively describes momentum vectors with corresponding formulae. Talk about the different strategies to be used while solving problems.

Momentum is a quantity of motion that depends on an object’s mass and velocity. You now know how to calculate the momentum of any object and can apply this to find momentum in many everyday situations. As you’ll learn in future posts, knowing how to calculate momentum can provide important insights into collisions and forces.

Therefore, momentum is also a vector quantity, with the same direction as the velocity. To determine the change in momentum, substitute the values for mass and the initial and final velocities into the equation above. Although the ball has greater velocity, the player has a much greater mass. Therefore, the momentum of the player is about 86 times greater than the momentum of the football.

[BL][OL] Review the equation of Newton’s second law of motion. Where Fnet is the net external force, ΔpΔp is the change in momentum, and ΔtΔt is the change in time. We can find momentum in a variety of real-world situations whenever we know mass and velocity. The equation illustrates that momentum is directly proportional to an object’s mass and directly proportional to the object’s velocity.

Give an example of a system whose mass is not constant. [BL][OL] Review inertia and Newton’s laws of motion. Check out this video from Conceptual Academy for more examples of momentum. Both its velocity was doubled and its mass was doubled. It is a wonderful and useful formula for normal every day use, but when we look at the atomic scale things interact from a distance through electro-magnetic fields.

1. [BL][OL] Review inertia and Newton’s laws of motion.
2. You may have heard the advice to bend your knees when jumping.
3. One advantage of plastics is their lighter weight, which results in better gas mileage.
4. Mass is a scalar, and velocity is a vector quantity.

What was the average force exerted on the 0.057 kg tennis ball by Williams’ racquet? To find the player’s momentum, substitute the known values for the player’s mass and speed into the equation. To find the ball’s momentum, substitute the known values for the ball’s mass and speed into the equation. (a) Calculate the momentum of a 110 kg football player running at 8 m/s. (b) Compare the player’s momentum with the momentum of a 0.410 kg football thrown hard at a speed of 25 m/s. Mass is a scalar, and velocity is a vector quantity.

In this activity you will experiment with different types of hand motions to gain an intuitive understanding of the relationship between force, time, and impulse. For example, you can do an experiment at home by rolling a ball down a ramp and having it hit a stationary object. You’ll notice that the steeper the ramp is, the more velocity and momentum the ball has, and the bigger impact it has on the stationary object it hits. Its principles have helped shape our understanding of motion, from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies. Understanding and applying the concept of momentum is vital to advancements in science, engineering, and technology. Sir Isaac Newton is a key figure in the study of momentum.