How is momentum calculated?

Momentum is calculated using the formula that defines momentum as the product of an object's mass and its velocity. This relationship can be written mathematically as:

Momentum (p) = Mass (m) x Velocity (v)

In this context, mass is measured in kilograms (kg) and velocity in meters per second (m/s), which means that momentum is expressed in units of kilogram meters per second (kg m/s). This formula reflects how momentum increases with either a greater mass or a higher velocity; therefore, an object with either a large mass or a high speed will have a greater momentum.

For instance, when a heavy truck moves at a certain speed, its momentum will be significantly higher than that of a small car moving at the same speed, due to the truck's greater mass. This concept is crucial in understanding various physical phenomena, including collisions and the conservation of momentum in isolated systems.