Momentum Definition and 1000 Threads

In Newtonian mechanics, linear momentum, translational momentum, or simply momentum (pl. momenta) is the product of the mass and velocity of an object. It is a vector quantity, possessing a magnitude and a direction. If m is an object's mass and v is its velocity (also a vector quantity), then the object's momentum is





p

=
m

v

.


{\displaystyle \mathbf {p} =m\mathbf {v} .}
In SI units, momentum is measured in kilogram meters per second (kg⋅m/s).
Newton's second law of motion states that the rate of change of a body's momentum is equal to the net force acting on it. Momentum depends on the frame of reference, but in any inertial frame it is a conserved quantity, meaning that if a closed system is not affected by external forces, its total linear momentum does not change. Momentum is also conserved in special relativity (with a modified formula) and, in a modified form, in electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, and general relativity. It is an expression of one of the fundamental symmetries of space and time: translational symmetry.
Advanced formulations of classical mechanics, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, allow one to choose coordinate systems that incorporate symmetries and constraints. In these systems the conserved quantity is generalized momentum, and in general this is different from the kinetic momentum defined above. The concept of generalized momentum is carried over into quantum mechanics, where it becomes an operator on a wave function. The momentum and position operators are related by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
In continuous systems such as electromagnetic fields, fluid dynamics and deformable bodies, a momentum density can be defined, and a continuum version of the conservation of momentum leads to equations such as the Navier–Stokes equations for fluids or the Cauchy momentum equation for deformable solids or fluids.

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  1. F

    Why is the thrust equation same under gravitational force?

    The homework statement isn't exactly as is mentioned above. The actual problem statement is as follows: This is problem 3.8 from John R. Taylor's Classical Mechanics; however, my question is not related to the main problem itself but one particular aspect of it. Now, in the same textbook (John...
  2. M

    Find power needed to fly this airplane using momentum considerations

    I just don't understand should I take u relative to the plane or relative to the ground. I tried to solve it like this: $$p_{final}=m_{0}v-m(u-v)-M(u-v)$$ $$p_{initial}=m_{0}v$$ $$\Delta p=-m(u-v)-M(u-v)$$ ##m_0## is mass of the plane. $$F=\Delta p$$ $$F=-m(u-v)-M(u-v)=(m+M)(v-u)$$...
  3. Mohmmad Maaitah

    Deriving force from momentum using d(mv)/dt

    How did the d(mv)/dt become the other two? Can someone explain how do we derive for new formulas in physics?
  4. M

    General form of Newton II -- Not understanding this step in the derivation

    For this, Does someone please know how do we derive equation 9.9 from 9.8? Do we take the limits as t approach's zero for both sides? Why not take limit as momentum goes to zero? Many thanks!
  5. gurbir_s

    I Angular momentum associated with a current carrying circular wire

    How should I calculate the angular momentum carried by a current carrying circular wire? Is it correct to consider the angular momentum of the electrons moving with drift velocity? Like ##L = n m_e v_{drift} r## where ##r## is radius of the loop, and ##n## is total number of electrons moving in...
  6. Kyuubi

    Solving Orbital Speed with Energy & Angular Momentum Conservation

    I've already solved the orbital speed by equating the kinetic and potential energy in the circle orbit case. $$\frac{1}{2}mv^2 = \frac{1}{2}ka^2.$$And so $$v^2 = \frac{k}{m}a^2$$Now when the impulse is added, the particle will obviously change course. If we set our reference point in time just...
  7. Daniel Guh

    AP Physics C Mechanics: Linear Momentum for Colliding Billiard Balls

    I'm guessing this question can be solved using the law of conservation of momentum Vi = 5 m/s (5 m/s) M = (4.33 m/s) cos30 M + V sinθ M I don't know what to do after this... I'm also not sure if I use the sin and cos correctly.
  8. M

    Final Angular Momentum of a Space Station

    Li = Lrf +Ltf Iωo = Iωf + mvRsinθ I = MR^2 (MR^2)ωo = (MR^2)ωf + mvRsinθ ωf = (MR^2ωo -mvRsinθ)/MR^2 = 3.99
  9. C

    B Is it possible to measure both position and momentum simultaneously?

    A simultaneous measurement of both a particle's position and momentum may be successfully accomplished if more than one photon were utilized for the measurement. A non-demolishing measurement is possible if the emitters were aligned such that each would offset the other’s recoil of the target...
  10. E

    I Ballentine Equation 5.13 on conservation of momentum

    In Chapter 5.3, Ballentine uses geometrical arguments to obtain the initial magnitude of a hydrogen atom's bound electron momentum. How does equation (5.13) obtain? I tried to naively compute $$p_e^2 \equiv \textbf{p}_e\cdot \textbf{p}_e = p_a^2+p_b^2+p_o^2 + 2\textbf{p}_a\cdot \textbf{p}_b -...
  11. D

    I Momentum eigenfunctions in an infinite well

    Hi For an infinite well , solving the Schrodinger equation gives wavefunctions of the form sin(nπx/L). These are not eigenfunctions of the momentum operator which means there are no eigenvalues of the momentum operator. Does this mean momentum cannot be measured ? Inside the infinite well the...
  12. J

    2-D Momentum Problem -- Elastic collision of two spheres

    Hi, Here is the problem What is required to answer this question is two assumptions. Firstly, the component of the momentum normal to the centre line is the same before and after. Therefore, secondly, A must recoil entirely in the horizontal plane. This is the only way to answer this question...
  13. snoopies622

    B How to show that particle spin includes angular momentum?

    I understand how a massive, electrically charged spinning ball would have both angular momentum and a magnetic dipole, and i can see how the Stern–Gerlach experiment shows that the magnetic dipole of an electron is quantized. What kind of experiment demonstrates a connection between electron...
  14. zb23

    A Momentum operator -- Why do we use the plane wave solution?

    Why in order to derive the QM momentum operator we use the plane wave solution. Why later on in field theory and particle physics, the plane wave ansatz is so physically important?
  15. P

    How to Calculate <Ly^2> Without Using Symmetry?

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  16. K

    I Angular momentum and rotations

    Cohen tannoudji. Vol 1.pg 702"Now, let us consider an infinitesimal rotation ##\mathscr{R}_{\mathbf{e}_z}(\mathrm{~d} \alpha)## about the ##O z## axis. Since the group law is conserved for infinitesimal rotations, the operator ##R_{\mathbf{e}_z}(\mathrm{~d} \alpha)## is necessarily of the form...
  17. E

    I Bernoulli and Momentum Disconnect?

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  18. A

    Momentum in a perfectly inelastic collision

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  19. paulimerci

    Find the magnitude of the momentum change of the ball?

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  20. H

    B Spin And Angular Momentum of Large Objects

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  21. uxioq99

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  22. paulimerci

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  23. M

    Puck collision with rod using angular momentum conservation

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  24. S

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  25. L

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  26. chris25

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  27. D

    B Greater momentum on impact means greater force?

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  28. H

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  29. G

    I How can I integrate variable velocity in fluid mechanics?

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  30. haha0p1

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  31. uSee2

    Experimental Design: Pulley and Mass Hangers

    ^ This is my personal drawing of the diagram, I couldn't take a picture of the actual one. The setup is a pulley wrapped with a cord and mass hangers attached to each end. My first thought when approaching this problem was to first determine the rotational inertia of the pulley, then use some...
  32. uSee2

    Explosion of 2 Carts on a Platform (Momentum)

    My Explanation: This system is a closed system, so the center of mass velocity stays constant. It was initially at rest so the position of the center of mass is constant. After their collision, the 2 carts are to the right of x = 0. Center of mass originally was at x = 0, so the platform had to...
  33. gggnano

    Surely this will NOT work: violation of conservation of momentum?

    The rotating ball should push the vehicle first to the right and once it hits the airbag - to the left?? Even if this works, how are you going to automate it and repeat it?
  34. N

    Average value of components of angular momentum for a wave packet

    I have typed up the main problem in latex (see photo below) It seems all such integrals evaluates to 0, but that is apparantly unreasonable for in classical mechanics such a free particle is with nonzero angular momentum with respect to y axis.
  35. S

    Calculate orbital angular momentum

    The section Kepler’s Second Law here describes the above equation. In this problem, ##\text{r = D, m = M and v = V}## What is the way to go about finding out ##\theta## as shown in Figure 13.21?
  36. A

    Electromagnetic linear momentum for a system of two moving charges

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  37. Ahmed1029

    I How is photon momentum compatible with special relativity?

    In relativity, momentum of a body is given by ##p=mv/\sqrt{1-v^2/c^2}##, but if mass is exactly zero and velocity is exactly ##c##, how is the photon momentum even defined? I don't think this problem can be resolved by simply stating the other formula relating energy to momentum, since it was...
  38. Spector989

    System of particles, impulse and conservation of angular momentum

    So i was able to solve the angular velocity part but i don't know how to find the velocity of centre of mass . For the first part i simply conserved momentum about COM because if i consider the particles as a part of the same system as rod the collision are internal forces . I am mainly...
  39. phos19

    I How do I check if the canonical angular momentum is conserved?

    Specifically given a purely magnetic hamiltonian with some associated vector potential : $$ H = \dfrac{1}{2m} (\vec{p} - q\vec{A}) $$ How can I deduce if $$ \vec{L} = \vec{r} \times \vec{p}$$ is conserved? ( $$\vec{p} = \dfrac{\partial L}{\partial x'}$$, i.e. the momentum is canonical)
  40. V

    Satellite mechanics: linear and rotational momentum

    [This is a continuation of OP's thread here: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/satellite-mechanics-linear-and-rotational-momentum.1046963/ ] satellite mechanics: linear and rotational momentum I'm trying to better understand classical mechanics, and came up with a question: Say we have a...
  41. H

    Conservation of Momentum of Rocket Exploding after Takeoff

    -Solved for vf using equation 3 to get 20.0m/s (speed before explosion) then solved for the distance to reach the explosion using equation 4, to get 20.0m, which felt wrong having the same numbers but that may just be coincidence. -Found the distance travelled of the lighter piece using 530m -...
  42. Y

    Calculate the angular momentum of this particle in rotational motion

    i,j,k arevector I know L=P*r=m*v*r=m(acosωti+bsinωtj)*(-aωsinωti+bωcosωtj)=mabw((cos^2)ωt+(sin^2)ωt)k=mabωk. but why m(acosωti+bsinωtj)*(-aωsinωti+bωcosωtj)=mabw((cos^2)ωt+(sin^2)ωt)k.I need some detail. please help me.
  43. Q

    Integration of structure function F2 to calculate quark momentum

    I study particle physics with “Particles and Nuclei” / Povh et al. and “Modern particle physics” / Mark Thomson and I am currently at “Deep-Inelastic scattering”. After introducing several scattering equations, such as Rosenbluth, that all include terms for electric AND magnetic scattering, i.e...
  44. Spector989

    Conservation of momentum and mechanical energy on an inclined plane

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  45. B

    Why does an electron have minimum kinetic energy when its momentum is 2h/λ?

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  46. V

    I Satellite mechanics: linear and rotational momentum

    satellite mechanics: linear and rotational momentum I'm trying to better understand classical mechanics, and came up with a question: Say we have a squared satellite weighting 100kg, 1 meter on each side. it has a thruster on it's side, shown in picture thruster quickly ejects 100g of propellant...
  47. O

    Using Momentum, KE and PE to solve this skier velocity problem

    See a picture of the question above. My thoughts are: dp(y)/dy is negative such that when going up the slope, the momentum in the y direction is equal to 0 just as the skier reaches the top of the circular section. Given that there is no friction on the slopes, the energy of the skier...
  48. A

    Orbital angular momentum Hamiltonian

    I think that the quantum numbers are l=1 and ml=0, so I write the spherical harmonic Y=Squareroot(3/4pi)*cos(theta). I would like to know how to compute the wave function at t=0, then I know it evolves with the time-evolution operator U(t), to answer the first request.
  49. G

    Tainter Damper Figure: Analyzing Forces

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  50. VVS2000

    I Other ways of finding expectation value of momentum

    Apart from the usual integral method, are there any other ways to find expectation value of momentum? I know one way is by using ehrenfest theorem, relating it time derivative of expectation value of position operator. Even using the uncertainty principle, we might get it if we know the...
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