Momentum is defined as
A)mass times speed.
B)mass times velocity.
C)force times velocity.
D)mass times acceleration.
E)force times acceleration.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Momentum is defined as the product of mass and velocity. Speed is the scalar magnitude of velocity, whereas velocity is a vector quantity that includes both speed and direction. Thus, option B, mass multiplied by velocity, is the correct definition of momentum. Option A, mass times speed, is incorrect because it does not take into account the direction of motion. Option C, force times velocity, is incorrect because force alone does not determine an object’s momentum, but rather its mass combined with velocity. Option D, mass times acceleration, is incorrect because acceleration is the rate at which an object’s velocity changes, and momentum depends only on the object’s current velocity. Option E, force times acceleration, is incorrect because although force can affect an object’s momentum, the direct relationship is between momentum and velocity.

Momentum Is Defined as