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.