What is the physical and actual difference between momentum and force?
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johnthomas
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue May 28, 2024 2:56 am
What is the physical and actual difference between momentum and force?
M = mass * velocity
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mary_davis75
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue May 28, 2024 2:59 am
Re: What is the physical and actual difference between momentum and force?
I took physics in high school but I just learned the formulas and not really the concepts. I know momentum is mass * velocity and force is mass * acceleration but I can't conceptually try to figure out the difference.
The difference between a bowling ball and a feather falling is their forces because they have different masses. They will fall at the same rate of 9.8m/s², but forces will be different. In this case, wouldn't force be how hard the object hits the ground? But wouldn't it hit the ground harder while acceleration compared to at it's highest speed? Oh wait, that's what momentum is because it's directly proportional to velocity. So I can't conceptually understand the difference between momentum and force.
Force is the change in momentum over time
To be clear, 'over time' here means that force is the rate of change of momentum. Applying a force for a time will change the momentum of the mass that the force is applied to in the direction of that force. Applying 1 N of force to a 1 kg object for 1 sec will change the velocity of it by 1 m/s in that direction by F × t = m × delta_v, where m × delta_v is the change in momentum and F is the rate of change, similar to v × t = displacement (change of position).
Momentum is mass moving. Force is the push or pull required to accelerate mass.
The difference between a bowling ball and a feather falling is their forces because they have different masses. They will fall at the same rate of 9.8m/s², but forces will be different. In this case, wouldn't force be how hard the object hits the ground? But wouldn't it hit the ground harder while acceleration compared to at it's highest speed? Oh wait, that's what momentum is because it's directly proportional to velocity. So I can't conceptually understand the difference between momentum and force.
- difference-between-force-and-momentum.png (62.88 KiB) Viewed 812 times
To be clear, 'over time' here means that force is the rate of change of momentum. Applying a force for a time will change the momentum of the mass that the force is applied to in the direction of that force. Applying 1 N of force to a 1 kg object for 1 sec will change the velocity of it by 1 m/s in that direction by F × t = m × delta_v, where m × delta_v is the change in momentum and F is the rate of change, similar to v × t = displacement (change of position).
Momentum is mass moving. Force is the push or pull required to accelerate mass.