Is momentum classified as a scalar or a vector quantity?

Momentum is classified as a vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction. In physics, a vector quantity is one that requires both of these characteristics in order to fully describe it.

For momentum, the magnitude is determined by the product of the mass of an object and its velocity (momentum = mass × velocity), where velocity is a vector that includes both speed and direction. Therefore, momentum not only tells us how much motion an object has (its magnitude) but also in which direction this motion occurs.

In contrast, scalar quantities, such as speed or mass, do not include directional information. Therefore, unlike scalars, which can be completely described by a numerical value alone, momentum necessitates a directional component to convey a complete understanding of the object's motion. This distinction confirms that the classification of momentum as a vector quantity is accurate.