Momentum

Momentum The mass of an object multiplied by its speed or velocity.



- mass times velocity equals momentum - The symbol for momentum is a lowercase p - The total momentum before a collision is the same as the total momentum after the collision - In order for an object to have momentum it must be moving, and the more velocity it has the more momentum - momentum is a vector quantity, meaning it is decribed by size and direction

p=mv

p=momentum (kilograms meters per second kgm/s) m=mass (kilograms kg) v=velocity (meters/ second m/s)

1) Michael Johnson, the men's world record holder for the 200m dash, ran it in 19.32s. His mass is 77 kg. What was his momentum?

ANSWER: v= 200/19.32=3864 p=77(3864)=297,528 kgm/s

2) A Shinkansen train has 16 aluminum cars has a combined mass of 71,000 kg. It reaches a top speed of 270 km/s. what was its momentum?

ANSWER: p= 71000(270)=19,170 kgm/s Sources: Notes, book