What is the difference between momentum and force?

Momentum is calculated, while force can only be measured

Momentum is a measurement that is not a vector value, while force has to be a vector value

Momentum is not related to to the velocity of an object, while force is directly responsible for changing the
velocity of an object

Momentum is a description of the motion of an object, while forces are outside phenomena that act upon
the object

1 answer

The best distinction among the options you provided is:

Momentum is a description of the motion of an object, while forces are outside phenomena that act upon the object.

To elaborate:

  • Momentum is a property of an object that depends on its mass and velocity; it is defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity (p = mv). Momentum is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. It describes the motion of the object and can change as the object’s velocity changes.

  • Force, on the other hand, is an interaction that causes an object to accelerate, change direction, or deform. Force is also a vector quantity, characterized by its magnitude and direction. The relationship between force and momentum is encapsulated in Newton's second law of motion, which states that the force acting on an object is equal to the rate of change of its momentum (F = dp/dt).

Thus, momentum describes the state of motion of an object, while force describes the influence acting upon that object to change its motion.