Momentum (Higher Tier)

This lesson covers momentum and the conservation of momentum as required by AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (8464), section 6.5.3. Momentum is a Higher Tier topic — it will only appear on Higher Tier papers. It builds on your knowledge of Newton's laws and is tested through both calculation and explanation questions.

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What Is Momentum?

Momentum is a measure of how much "motion" an object has. It depends on both the mass and the velocity of the object.

$p = m \times v$p=m×v

Where:

• p = momentum (kg m/s)
• m = mass (kg)
• v = velocity (m/s)

Key facts about momentum:

• Momentum is a vector quantity — it has both magnitude and direction.
• The direction of momentum is the same as the direction of velocity.
• A stationary object has zero momentum (because $v = 0$v=0).
• A heavier object or a faster object has more momentum.

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Worked Examples — Calculating Momentum

Example 1

A car of mass 1200 kg travels at 15 m/s to the right. Calculate its momentum.

Solution: