Momentum⚠ unverified
Physics / Mechanics · Compute linear momentum
Parameters
| Input | Symbol | Unit | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mass | mass | kg | 1.0 | Mass of the body |
| velocity | velocity | m/s | 1.0 | Linear velocity of the body |
| Output | Symbol | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| result | p | kg*m/s | Linear momentum, in kilogram-metres per second (kg*m/s) |
The science & history
Understanding the Parameters
- $m$ — at fixed speed, momentum scales with mass (a truck vs a bullet at equal $v$).
- $v$ — direction of $\mathbf{p}$ follows $\mathbf{v}$; this card returns the scalar product $mv$.
- $p$ — central in collisions (Conservation Of Momentum, Impulse).
Derivation (Approaching a Proof)
In Newtonian mechanics momentum is defined as $\mathbf{p} = m\mathbf{v}$. Newton’s second law is most fundamentally $\mathbf{F}_{\mathrm{net}} = d\mathbf{p}/dt$. For constant $m$, that reduces to $F = ma$. Kinetic energy $\tfrac12 m v^{2}$ is a different quadratic invariant — not to be confused with $p$.
History
“Quantity of motion” $mv$ appears in Descartes and Newton; it is the conserved charge of spatial translation symmetry in modern terms.
Related Concepts: Impulse, Conservation Of Momentum, Newton's Second Law, Kinetic Energy, Angular Momentum
Notes: Registry calculator momentum (unverified). Non-relativistic scalar magnitude form.