How To Calculate A Change In Momentum

An object's momentum is the product of its velocity and mass. The quantity describes, for instance, the impact that a moving vehicle has on an object that it hits or the penetrative power of a speeding bullet. When the object travels at a constant speed, it neither gains nor loses momentum. When two objects collide, they again together gain and lose no momentum. The only way for a body to gain momentum is for an external force to act on it.

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Step 1

Divide the magnitude of the external force on the object by the object's mass. For this example, imagine a force of 1,000 Newtons acting on a mass of 20 kg: 1,000 ÷ 20 = 50. This is the object's acceleration, measured in meters per second squared.

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Step 2

Multiply the acceleration by the time for which the force acts. If the force acts, for instance, for 5 seconds: 50 × 5 = 250. This is the object's change in velocity, measured in m/s.

Step 3

Multiply the object's change in velocity by its mass: 250 × 20 = 5,000. This is the object's change in momentum, measured in kg m/s.

Cite This Article

MLA

Menezes, Ryan. "How To Calculate A Change In Momentum" sciencing.com, https://www.sciencing.com/how-8395603-calculate-change-momentum/. 7 August 2017.

APA

Menezes, Ryan. (2017, August 7). How To Calculate A Change In Momentum. sciencing.com. Retrieved from https://www.sciencing.com/how-8395603-calculate-change-momentum/

Chicago

Menezes, Ryan. How To Calculate A Change In Momentum last modified March 24, 2022. https://www.sciencing.com/how-8395603-calculate-change-momentum/

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