AQA GCSE Momentum (Physics)

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Momentum

Momentum is the tendency of an object to keep moving, or to stop the object from moving. 

Momentum is a vector quantity. 

Momentum formula with formulae triangle and the three possible rearrangements

Example calculations.

1.A stone of mass 0.2kg is moving through the air at a velocity of 4m/s in the forward direction. Calculate the momentum of the stone.

Momentum = mass x velocity

Momentum = 0.2kg x 4m/s = 0.8 kg m/s

2. A ping pong ball of mass 3g is moving forward at a velocity of 6m/s. Calculate the momentum of the ping pong ball. 

Convert 3g into kg, 3g = 0.003kg

Momentum = mass x velocity 

Momentum = 0.003kg x 6m/s = 0.018 kg m/s

3. A boulder of mass 20kg is rolling down a hill with a momentum of 200kgm/s. Calculate the velocity of the boulder.

Velocity = momentum/mass

Velocity = 200/20 = 10m/s

Momentum as a vector quantity

Momentum is a vector quantity, so it has both a magnitude and direction. 

The magnitide is the size of the momentum e.g. 1kg m/s or 10 kg m/s

In the diagram below the cannon ball has a forward velocity, so it will have a + momentum. The cannon has a backwards recoil velocity, so it has a – momentum.

cannon firing a cannon ball to show forward and reverse momentum as a vector quantity

Practice Question

1. State the formula for momentum when each of the following is the subject

1a. Momentum =

1b. Velocity =

1c. Mass = 

2.A 3 kg object moves with a velocity of 2.5 m/s. Calculate its momentum.

3.An object has a momentum of 24 kg m/s and a mass of 6 kg. Calculate its velocity.

4. An object traveling at 15 m/s has a momentum of 75 kg m/s. What is its mass?

5. A 10-tonne lorry moves at a velocity of 25 m/s. Calculate its momentum. (1 tonne = 1,000 kg)

6.A mass of 200 g is moving at 15 m/s. Calculate its momentum. (Convert mass to kg)

 

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