Concept preview

What you will be able to do

1. 01Calculate momentum p = mv
2. 02Relate impulse to change in momentum (Δp = FΔt)
3. 03Apply conservation of momentum to collisions

Momentum is mass in motion: $p = mv$, a vector with units kg·m/s. A heavy, fast object has a lot of momentum and is hard to stop. Momentum captures 'how much motion' an object carries — and, as we'll see, it's the quantity nature keeps perfectly balanced in every collision.