Tuesday, 4 November 2014

newtonian mechanics - What is the significance of momentum?



I just want to get an idea what momentum is. I know the mathematical meaning that momentum is $mv$ where $v$ is velocity. But I don't know its significance. Like I know that Acceleration is how velocity is changing with respect to time, I wanted to get feel of what momentum really is?



Answer



Momentum is what makes it "tough" to stop moving things.


If you stand with an apple in each hand, then you feel their weight. If you throw one of them upwards and catch it again, it feels "heavier" in that moment. What you feel in addition to the weight is the momentum.


Stopping a motion can be an easy or tough task depending on the momentum, which encompasses both the speed $v$ to decelerate from as well as the mass $m$ that resists this deceleration.





At the same time there happens to exist a conservation law regarding momentum. All momentum before equals all after any event; momentum is always conserved $\sum P_{before}=\sum p_{after}$. So apart from the physical significance of momentum, it also happens to be a very useful tool.


That's why we see it and learn about it and use it all the time.


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