To calculate the momentum of an object, you can use the formula:
Momentum (p) = Mass (m) × Velocity (v)
Where:
- Momentum (p) is the momentum of the object, measured in kilogram meters per second (kg·m/s).
- Mass (m) is the mass of the object, measured in kilograms (kg).
- Velocity (v) is the velocity of the object, measured in meters per second (m/s).
Momentum is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. Thus, when calculating momentum, it’s essential to consider the direction of the object’s velocity.
For example, if you have a car with a mass of 1,000 kg moving at a velocity of 20 m/s, the momentum would be calculated as:
p = 1000 kg × 20 m/s = 20,000 kg·m/s
This means the car has a momentum of 20,000 kg·m/s in the direction it is moving. Understanding momentum is crucial in physics because it helps describe the motion of objects and can be used in various applications, from sports to vehicle collisions.