How is momentum defined in physics?

Momentum in physics is defined as the product of an object’s mass and its velocity. This definition captures the essence of momentum as a measure of the motion of an object, indicating how much motion an object has and its resistance to changes in that motion. The equation for momentum can be represented as:

[ p = m \cdot v ]

where ( p ) is the momentum, ( m ) is the mass of the object, and ( v ) is its velocity.

This relationship highlights that an object with a greater mass will have more momentum than an object with a smaller mass, assuming both are moving at the same velocity. Similarly, for the same mass, an increase in velocity directly increases momentum. This principle is crucial for understanding concepts in collision, motion, and dynamics within physics.

The other options represent different physical principles or calculations. For example, force times distance relates to work (not momentum), weight times gravitational pull describes gravitational force, and speed times time gives distance rather than momentum. Thus, defining momentum as mass times velocity aligns precisely with its role in physics.