How is momentum defined?

How is momentum defined?

• A. Mass x acceleration
• B. Vehicle mass x velocity
• C. Velocity divided by mass
• D. Mass x force

Answer: (B)

Momentum measures how much motion an object has and how hard it would be to stop it. It is found by multiplying the object's mass by its velocity, so heavier objects or faster-moving ones have more momentum. Because velocity is a vector, momentum has the same direction as the motion. This is why the product of mass and velocity is the correct way to define momentum. Other options mix in quantities that describe different concepts: mass times acceleration relates to force (Newton’s second law), velocity divided by mass isn’t a standard quantity, and mass times force combines different units and doesn't equal momentum. The momentum of a vehicle, for example, is simply its mass times its velocity, capturing both how heavy it is and how fast it’s moving.

Momentum measures how much motion an object has and how hard it would be to stop it. It is found by multiplying the object's mass by its velocity, so heavier objects or faster-moving ones have more momentum. Because velocity is a vector, momentum has the same direction as the motion.

This is why the product of mass and velocity is the correct way to define momentum. Other options mix in quantities that describe different concepts: mass times acceleration relates to force (Newton’s second law), velocity divided by mass isn’t a standard quantity, and mass times force combines different units and doesn't equal momentum. The momentum of a vehicle, for example, is simply its mass times its velocity, capturing both how heavy it is and how fast it’s moving.