How is momentum defined?

Momentum is defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity. This relationship can be expressed mathematically as ( p = mv ), where ( p ) represents momentum, ( m ) is the mass of the object, and ( v ) is its velocity.

This definition highlights key characteristics of momentum: it is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. The mass aspect indicates how much of the object's matter is contributing to its motion, while the velocity part describes how fast and in which direction that object is moving. Momentum is a crucial concept in physics, especially in the context of collisions and conservation laws, where it helps to analyze the behavior of objects in motion.

The other choices describe different physical concepts that are not synonymous with momentum. For example, mass multiplied by acceleration describes force, while total energy pertains to kinetic energy or other forms of energy rather than the object's motion as a product of its mass and velocity. Understanding this distinction is essential for applying the concept of momentum correctly in various mechanics problems.