Momentum and Impulse Calculator
Momentum of a moving mass, and the force needed to change it in a given time.
Results
Momentum
16,800.00
kg·m/s
Impulse
-16,800.00
N·s
Force
-112,000.0
N
Acceleration
-9.52
g
What this tool does
The same change in momentum can be delivered by a huge force over a moment or a modest one over longer, and that single fact is why crumple zones, airbags and crash mats exist: they stretch the stopping time and divide the force by the same amount.
Formula
p = m × v ; impulse = F × Δt = Δp
Variables
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
m | Mass | kg |
v1 | Initial velocity | m/s |
v2 | Final velocity | m/s |
dt | Time | s |
P | Momentum | kg·m/s |
DP | Impulse | N·s |
F | Force | N |
A | Acceleration | g |
Worked example
- Mass1200 kg
- Initial velocity14 m/s
- Final velocity0 m/s
- Time0.15 s
- Momentum16,800.00 kg·m/s
- Impulse-16,800.00 N·s
- Force-112,000.0 N
- Acceleration-9.52 g
Limitations
- The formula assumes ideal conditions: no friction losses, no air resistance and no efficiency losses unless you enter them.
- Mixing units is the most common source of error. Convert every input to the units shown next to each field before calculating.