Is momentum a vector or a scalar quantity?

Momentum of an object is the product of its mass and velocity (p=m x v). Since mass is a scalar quantity and velocity is a vector quantity, we can derive that momentum must therefore be a vector quantity as the product of a vector with a scalar is a vector. We can also see that momentum is a vector quantity as a vector quantity is one that has both magnitude and direction. If we picture a car driving down the road with momentum p: the momentum of the car has both magnitude and direction (the direction of this momentum is the direction in which the car is traveling).

MN
Answered by Madeleine N. Physics tutor

76207 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

A car accelerates (at a constant acceleration) from a velocity of 25m/s to 34m/s in 6s. Calculate the cars acceleration.


Insulating a home costs £2000 and saves £50 a year. What is the payback time?


How does a radioactive nucleus emit electrons when it doesn't contain any?


If a race car completed a full lap and is where he started, why is his average velocity zero but his average speed isn’t?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning