Momentum Calculator
Linear momentum from mass and velocity (p = m·v).
Result
Momentum (kg·m/s)
50.00
How it works
Momentum measures the "quantity of motion" a body carries: p = m·v, mass times velocity, in kg·m/s. A 1,000 kg car at 20 m/s carries 20,000 kg·m/s — the same as a 2,000 kg truck at 10 m/s, which is exactly the kind of comparison momentum is built for. It is a vector: direction matters, and opposite directions carry opposite signs. Its superpower is conservation — in any collision or explosion with no outside force, the total momentum before equals the total after. That single law lets physicists predict collision outcomes without knowing the messy details of the impact. Momentum also explains safety engineering through impulse: force × time = change in momentum. Stopping the same momentum over a longer time needs less force — which is why airbags, crumple zones and bent knees on landing all work.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the units of momentum?
Kilogram-metres per second (kg·m/s) when mass is in kg and velocity in m/s.
Can momentum be negative?
Yes — the sign shows direction; a velocity in the opposite direction gives negative momentum.
How is momentum related to force?
Force is the rate of change of momentum: F = Δp/Δt (Newton's second law). The same momentum change spread over more time needs less force — the principle behind airbags and crumple zones.
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