Momentum [Higher Tier]

Momentum

• Momentum is a property of moving objects (recall this equation):

$$p = m v$$

• $p$ momentum in kilogram metres per second, kg m/s; $m$ mass in kg; $v$ velocity in m/s
• Momentum is a vector: it has the direction of the velocity, so momentum in one direction is positive and in the opposite direction negative
• Worked example: a 1000 kg car at 15 m/s has momentum $1000 \times 15 = 15\,000$ kg m/s