Understanding and Calculating Momentum

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video provides a comprehensive introduction to the physics concept of momentum. It begins with an engaging personal anecdote about crashing remote control cars to intuitively explain how both mass and speed contribute to the impact of a collision. The narrator then transitions to the formal definition of momentum as "the tendency of an object to stay in motion" and introduces the fundamental equation p = mv. The video covers several key themes including the relationship between mass, velocity, and momentum; the importance of standard units (kilograms and meters per second); and the mathematical process of calculating momentum. It also introduces two critical properties of momentum: that it is a vector quantity (having direction) and that it follows the law of conservation, illustrated through a pool table break shot. Ideally suited for physical science and introductory physics classrooms, this resource bridges conceptual understanding with mathematical application. It features clear, step-by-step walkthroughs of practice problems, including unit conversions from grams to kilograms, and provides a pause-and-practice opportunity for students to test their skills. The combination of visual examples (container ships, bullets, comets) and whiteboard-style calculations makes abstract physics concepts concrete and actionable.