Forces - 5.7.1 Momentum is a Property of Moving Objects (GCSE Physics AQA)

Momentum is a Property of Moving Objects

Momentum

Calculating Momentum

The momentum of an object is a measure of how hard it is to stop. It depends on two factors:

  1. Mass – the heavier an object, the harder it is to stop.
  2. Velocity – the faster an object is moving, the harder it is to stop.

We can calculate momentum using the following equation:

Where:

  • momentum, p, in kilograms metre per second, kg m/s
  • mass, m, in kilograms, kg
  • velocity, v, in metres per second, m/s

Question: Calculate the momentum of an 8kg object travelling at a speed of 2 m/s.

1. Write out the equation.

p = mv

2. Substitute in the numbers.

p = 8 x 2
p = 16 kg m/s

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