Difference between revisions of "Momentum (physics)"

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-'''Momentum''' is the "quantity of motion" an object possesses.  In classical [[physics]], the linear form of momentum is defined as the product of [[mass]] and [[velocity]]:
-:<math> \mathbf{p} = m\mathbf{v} </math>
-Hence, the faster an object goes, or the more mass it possesses, the more momentum it has.  Momentum is a [[vector]] quantity, and therefore has both a magnitude and direction.  It is important to physicists because it is a [[conservation law|conserved]] quantity, making it useful for solving problems.
-In common usage, the words "momentum" and "[[inertia]]" are sometimes used interchangeably.  Inertia is the tendency for a body to resist changes in its motion until and unless a force acts on it.
-The motion of an object will continue until something makes it change its motion. A railroad car, once it gets going, will continue its motion for a long time, until the tiny forces of friction cause it to slow down and stop. This can take miles. Even putting on the brakes can take up to mile, because there is so much momentum.
-A [[force]] in the same direction as the body is moving will increase its speed. A force in the opposite direction will slow it down.
-A force coming from the side will cause a deviation from straight-line motion.
-An interesting case of a sideways force is a weight on the end of a string (like the Biblical slingshot used by [[David]] against [[Goliath]]). When you twirl the weight around above your head, the string is pulling the weight toward you - but it never gets any closer!  This kind of force is called a [[centripetal force|centripetal]], or center seeking, force.
-==Angular momentum==
-A rotating or orbiting body possesses angular momentum.  Like linear momentum, angular momentum is a vector quantity and is [[Conservation of angular momentum|conserved]].  An object's angular momentum changes only when a [[torque]] is applied to it. It is defined as:
-:<math>\vec{L} = \vec{r} \times \vec{p}</math>
-Where
-*<math>\vec{L}</math> is the angular momentum
-*<math>\vec{p}</math> is the linear momentum
-*<math>\vec{r}</math> is the [[displacement]] vector from the origin to the particle
-In [[classical mechanics]], the magnitude of the angular momentum of a particle orbiting some origin (such as the [[earth]] orbiting the [[sun]]) is given by
-:<math>L=mvr</math>
-where
-*<math> L </math> is the magnitude angular momentum
-*<math> m </math> is the mass of the particle
-*<math> v </math> is the tangential [[velocity]] of the particle
-*<math> r </math> is the distance from the particle to the origin
-The direction of the angular momentum vector points perpendicularly to the plane formed by the object's orbit, in accordance with the [[right hand rule]].
-In addition to orbital angular momentum, the earth has rotational angular momentum due to its spin. The equations for calculating rotational angular momentum depend on the object's [[moment of inertia]], therefore the shape and density of the object and can be given as:
-:<math>\vec{L} = I \vec{ \omega}</math>
-Where
-*<math>\vec{\omega}</math> is the angular momentum
-*<math> I </math> is the [[moment of inertia]]
-*<math>\vec{\omega}</math> angular velocity of the body
-=== Generalized momentum ===
-The definition of momentum can be generalized in [[Lagrangian Dynamics|Lagrangian]] and [[Hamiltonian Dynamics|Hamiltonian]] dynamics, to
-<math>
-p=\frac{\partial L}{\partial \dot x}
-</math>
-where L is the [[Lagrangian]] and <math>\dot x</math> is the velocity. In some cases the generalized momentum is the same as the momentum defined above. For example, for a free particle the Lagrangian equals the [[kinetic energy]] and so
-<math>
-p=\frac{\partial (m\dot x^2/2)}{\partial \dot x}=m\dot x
-</math>
-as above.
-== Momentum in Relativity ==
-In [[relativity]], momentum must be redefined for conservation of momentum to be retained. It is defined as
-:<math> \mathbf{p}= \gamma m  \mathbf{v}</math>
-where <math>\gamma</math> is the [[Lorentz factor]].
-==Momentum in Quantum Mechanics==
-In [[quantum mechanics]], the operator for momentum, <math>\hat p</math> is
-<math>\hat p = \frac{\hbar}{i} \frac{\partial}{\partial x}</math>
-==External links==
-*[http://id.mind.net/~zona/mstm/physics/mechanics/momentum/momentum.html Momentum]
-[[Category:Physics]]
-[[Category:Mechanics]]

Difference between revisions of "Momentum (physics)"

Revision as of 22:48, December 6, 2017

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