Yes, momentum can be negative. In physics, momentum is defined as the product of an object’s mass and its velocity. The formula for momentum (p) is given by:
p = m × v
Where:
- p is the momentum
- m is the mass of the object
- v is the velocity of the object
Momentum depends on the direction of the velocity. If an object is moving in the negative direction (as defined by a chosen coordinate system), its velocity will be negative, leading to negative momentum. For example, if a car is traveling backward at a speed of 10 m/s, its momentum would be negative because we consider backward motion as the negative direction.
This concept is crucial in understanding collisions and the conservation of momentum, where the total momentum before and after an event must remain constant, regardless of the signs (positive or negative) of the individual momenta involved.