If an object is moving in any reference frame, then it has momentum in that frame. It is important to note that momentum is frame dependent. That is, the same object may have a certain momentum in one frame of reference, but a different amount in another frame. Explain the concept of Linear Momentum in detail with examples.[Include necessary sketches]

Question

hunus · Answer

Linear momentum is defined as

$$p = m*v$$
where p is the momentum.

The more massive an object is the more momentum it has and the larger the velocity of an object to more momentum it has.

Newton referred to momentum as 'the quantity of motion' which can kind of give you an idea of what 'physically' momentum is.

Now, the reason momentum is frame dependent is because the velocity of objects is dependent on reference frame.

If you were driving down the road going 70 mph and a car next to you was also going 70 mph, then in your reference frame the car next to you has no momentum.

If that same car were going 75 mph its momentum relative to your car would be 5 mph * the mass of the car