Momentum (GCSE Physics)
Momentum
Momentum
Calculating Momentum
The momentum of an object is a measure of how hard it is to stop. It depends on two factors:
- Mass – the heavier an object, the harder it is to stop.
- 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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