By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
Momentum is mass times velocity. It measures how hard an object is to stop, which is why a slow truck can carry more momentum than a fast bicycle. This calculator also reports kinetic energy and the stopping impulse.
Momentum and kinetic energy from mass and velocity.
p = m · v E_k = ½ m v²
Momentum is signed and adds as a vector. Kinetic energy is always non-negative and is not conserved in inelastic collisions.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| m | Mass, in kilograms. |
| v | Velocity, in metres per second. |
| p | Momentum, in kilogram-metres per second. |
| E_k | Kinetic energy, in joules. |
The momentum is 6 kg·m/s and the kinetic energy is 9 J. Stopping it in 0.5 s requires an average force of 12 N.
Continue with the Muzzle Velocity Calculator, Polar Moment of Inertia Calculator, or the Projectile Motion Calculator — or browse more kinematics tools and all physics calculators.
No. Momentum is proportional to velocity, while kinetic energy is proportional to velocity squared.
Results are computed from the standard equations of classical mechanics. Unit conversions use the SI definitions published by NIST. Air resistance is ignored unless the calculator names a drag model.
Reference material used to build and check this calculator:
Last reviewed: September 2026. See how we build and check every tool on the about page.
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Content updated: September 2026