Momentum & Impulse Formulas
A complete list of momentum & impulse formulas, covering linear and angular momentum, impulse, collisions, and conservation of momentum.
8 formulas. Use the interactive searcher to solve for any variable and convert units.
Open the interactive searcher →Linear momentum
p = m·v
p momentumkg·m/sm masskgv velocitym/s
Angular momentum
L = I·ω
L angular momentumkg·m²/sI moment of inertiakg·m²ω angular velocityrad/s
Conservation of momentum
m₁·u₁ + m₂·u₂ = m₁·v₁ + m₂·v₂
m₁ masskgm₂ masskgu₁ initial velocitym/su₂ initial velocitym/sv₁ final velocitym/sv₂ final velocitym/s
Elastic collision (1D)
v₁ = ((m₁−m₂)·u₁ + 2·m₂·u₂)/(m₁+m₂)
v₁ final velocitym/sm₁ masskgm₂ masskgu₁ initial velocitym/su₂ initial velocitym/s
Coefficient of restitution
e = (v₂−v₁)/(u₁−u₂)
e coefficient of restitutionv₁ final velocitym/sv₂ final velocitym/su₁ initial velocitym/su₂ initial velocitym/s
Center of mass
x_cm = Σ(mᵢ·xᵢ) / Σmᵢ
x_cm center of massmmᵢ masskgxᵢ positionm
Rocket equation
Δv = v_e·ln(m₀/m_f)
Δv change in velocitym/sv_e exhaust velocitym/sm₀ initial masskgm_f final masskg
Angular impulse
ΔL = τ·Δt
ΔL change in angular momentumkg·m²/sτ torqueN·mΔt times