Momentum Calculator

Calculate the linear momentum and kinetic energy of an object based on its mass and velocity.

Momentum (p)
50kg·m/s
Kinetic Energy (K)
125J
Magnitude Contribution (Log Scale)
MassVelocity
How is this calculated?
1. Momentum: p = m × v
p = 10 × 5 = 50 kg·m/s
2. Kinetic Energy: K = p² / (2m)
K = 50² / (2 × 10) = 125 J

About the Momentum Calculator

Momentum describes the quantity of motion an object has. The heavier an object is and the faster it's moving, the more momentum it carries, making it harder to stop.

Mathematical Formula & Logic

Linear Momentum p = m * v - p = Linear Momentum (kg m/s) - m = Mass (kg) - v = Velocity (m/s) Kinetic Energy from Momentum K = p^2 / (2 * m) - K = Kinetic Energy (J) - p = Linear Momentum (kg m/s) - m = Mass (kg)

Step-by-Step Example

A 1,000 kg car moving at 25 m/s has a momentum of 25,000 kg·m/s and a kinetic energy of 312,500 Joules. A 0.1 kg baseball thrown at 40 m/s has a momentum of only 4 kg·m/s, but carries 80 Joules of kinetic energy.

Reference Data & Values

massvelocitymomentumkinetic energy
10 kg5 m/s50 kg m/s125 J
1000 kg25 m/s25000 kg m/s312500 J
0.1 kg100 m/s10 kg m/s500 J
5 kg0 m/s0 kg m/s0 J
2 kg-10 m/s-20 kg m/s100 J

Frequently Asked Questions

Momentum is a physics concept representing the 'mass in motion' of an object. It is a vector quantity calculated by multiplying mass and velocity.
You calculate momentum by multiplying the mass of the object (in kg) by its velocity (in m/s). The formula is p = m × v.
The standard SI unit for momentum is kilogram-meters per second (kg·m/s). Another equivalent unit is the Newton-second (N·s).
Momentum (p = mv) is a vector describing motion's direction and magnitude, proportional to velocity. Kinetic Energy (K = 1/2 mv²) is a scalar measuring total energy, proportional to velocity squared.
Yes, because momentum is a vector (it has a direction), a negative velocity results in negative momentum, indicating it is moving in the opposite direction.
Yes, the law of conservation of momentum states that in a closed, isolated system with no external forces, the total momentum remains constant, even during collisions.
A heavier object has more mass, which means it has more momentum for a given speed. According to Newton's laws, a greater force or a longer time is required to bring it to a stop.
Yes, if the small object is moving significantly faster than the large object, the product of its mass and velocity (momentum) can be higher.