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

71693 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

If a boy is stationary on a skateboard and jumps off forwards, why does the skateboard move backwards?


A 2 kW electric fire is switched on for 30 minutes. How many Units of electricity does it use?


When a toothbrush is charging, p.d. across the primary coil is 230 V, p.d. across the secondary coil is 7.2 V. The primary coil in the charging base has 575 turns of wire on its coil. Find the number of turns on the secondary coil inside the toothbrush.


What is constant acceleration?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences