Momentum Calculator
Calculate linear momentum from mass and velocity, with a signed result in kg·m/s.
How It's Calculated
Formula
p = m \times vLinear momentum is the product of mass and velocity: a mass in kilograms multiplied by a velocity in meters per second gives momentum in kilogram meters per second (kg·m/s). Velocity is signed, so momentum takes the sign of the entered velocity: a negative velocity yields a negative momentum in the same direction. This is distinct from the Mass Calculator, which computes mass from density and volume and has no velocity input.
Worked Examples
5 kg at 10 m/s
- Momentum = 5 kg x 10 m/s = 50 kg·m/s.
5 kg at -10 m/s
- Momentum = 5 kg x -10 m/s = -50 kg·m/s. Negative momentum reflects the sign of the velocity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as the Mass Calculator?
No. This calculator computes momentum from a mass and a velocity (p = m x v). The Mass Calculator instead computes mass from density and volume and does not take a velocity input.
Can velocity be negative?
Yes. Velocity is a signed finite number. A negative velocity produces a negative momentum, reflecting direction relative to whichever direction was treated as positive.
Can mass be zero?
Yes. A mass of zero is mathematically valid here and yields a momentum of zero for any velocity.
Can mass be negative?
No. Mass must be zero or a positive number; negative mass is not a physically valid input.