Now what exactly does momentum mean

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the definition and physical significance of momentum in physics, specifically addressing the formula p = mv (momentum equals mass times velocity). Participants emphasize that momentum represents a conserved quantity in the absence of external forces and is linked to the concepts of inertia and motion. The conversation highlights the complexities of understanding inertia, with various theories proposed, including Galilean and Newtonian theories. Ultimately, the participants agree that while momentum is calculable, its physical interpretation requires deeper exploration beyond mere equations.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Familiarity with the concepts of mass and velocity
  • Basic knowledge of inertia and its implications in physics
  • Awareness of conservation laws in physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the concept of inertia in detail, including its various theories
  • Study the implications of momentum conservation in different physical systems
  • Learn about the relationship between momentum and force in mechanics
  • Investigate the role of translational and rotational symmetry in physics
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Students of physics, educators teaching mechanics, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of momentum and its foundational role in physical laws.

  • #31
bomba923 said:
Now what exactly does momentum mean??
We think of force as a push or pull...
We acceleration as change in motion (speeding up/down, turning..etc-etc...)
We think speed as amt. distance/time...

But momentum??What is it---i need a definition OTHER than mass*velocity...
I need a definition other than a change in impulse (force*change in time)

What does momentum PHYSICALLY (push/pull, speed up/down) represent?

The closest thing in my head is "inertia with respect to velocity"--

But yeah...what does momentum PHYSICALLY represent? The product of mass and velocity...what does it MEAN? ("physically-speaking")?
I'll take a stab at it, FWIW.

Momentum may be thought of as a measure of the amount of external pushing or pulling a system has experienced in its past. Since p = \int Fdt a system accumulates all the impulses and stores them. We know it stores these impulses because in the absence of forces (ie. F=0), dp/dt = F = 0, so p does not change.

AM
 

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