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This page contains online questions only. Jot down your answers and check them against the worked out answers at the end of the page

6.1 What is the momentum of an object and how do we calculate it?

All moving objects have what we call momentum.  (sometimes denoted by a lower case p)

The faster an object moves, the bigger its momentum.

The bigger the mass of a moving object, the bigger its moment.

The momentum of an object is directly proportional to its velocity AND its mass.

Momentum (p) is a vector quantity, it has both size and direction

Therefore the equation for momentum is ...

momentum (kilogram metre per second) = mass (kilogram) × velocity (metre per second)

momentum p (kg m/s) = mass m (kg) x velocity v (m/s)

p = m × v

 

Example of simple calculations using the formula for momentum

Q1  A 120 kg sprinter is travelling at 9.0 m/s, what is the momentum of the runner?

Worked out ANSWERS to momentum calculations

 

Q2 If a 20 g bullet has a momentum of 8 kg m/s, calculate its velocity.

p = m × v,  v = p/m     (don't forget to change the g to kg!)

Worked out ANSWERS to momentum calculations

 

Q3 What mass must an object have if it has a momentum of 1.5 x 10⁶ kg m/s and a velocity of 30 m/s?

p = m × v,  m = p/v

Worked out ANSWERS to momentum calculations

 

Q4 What is the velocity of a 1500 kg car travelling north with 30 000 kg m/s of momentum?

Worked out ANSWERS to momentum calculations

 

INDEX physics notes: Conservation of momentum, elastic and non-elastic collisions, Newton's 2nd law calculations - problem solving

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Keywords, phrases and learning objectives for elastic/inelastic collisions and momentum

Know the formula for momentum is p = mv (momentum = mass x velocity)

Know how to calculate the momentum of a moving object.

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INDEX physics notes: Conservation of momentum, elastic and non-elastic collisions, Newton's 2nd law calculations - problem solving