What is linear momentum?
Q: What is linear momentum?
A: Linear momentum, also known as translational momentum, is the product of a body's mass and its velocity. It can be thought of as the "power" when a body is moving, meaning how much force it can have on another body.
Q: How is linear momentum measured?
A: Linear momentum is measured in kg m/s (kilogram metre per second) or N s (newton second).
Q: What are some examples of objects with high linear momentum?
A: Examples of objects with high linear momentum include a bullet due to its extraordinary velocity, a bowling ball moving slowly but with large mass, and a baseball thrown fast but with small mass. Another example where very low-velocities cause greater momentum is the push of Indian subcontinent towards the rest of Asia which causes serious damages such as earthquakes in the area of Himalayas.
Q: Is linear momentum conserved?
A: Yes, linear momentum is conserved which means that the total initial momentum must be equal to the total final momentum and remains unchanged.
Q: Is linear momentum a vector quantity?
A: Yes, linear momentums is a vector quantity which has both direction and magnitude.
Q: What happens if two bodies collide with each other?
A: When two bodies collide with each other their respective momentums will be transferred between them resulting in changes in their velocities depending on their masses.
