Linear Momentum
We have already described "the motion" of a moving object in terms of its Kinetic Energy
KE = (1/2) m v2 Another way to describe "the motion" of a moving object is its linear momentum
Momentum = mass x velocity p = m v
This means that momentum is a vector; there is a direction associated with momentum. Momentum and Kientic Energy both describe a moving object. They are somewhat similar. But they are different things different quantities. One of the differences is that Kinetic Energy is a scallar and momentum is a vector.
Units?
Momentum has units of [ p ] = [ kg ] [ m / s] = kg-m/s
There is no special name given to these units.
ToC Impulse Return to ToC, Momentum (c) 2002, Doug Davis; all rights reserved
