Velocity vs Momentum

Here is an explanation of the difference between velocity and momentum based on insights from experts:

Velocity is a vector quantity that indicates the speed and direction of an object's movement. It is essentially the rate at which an object's position changes over time.

Momentum, on the other hand, is the product of an object's mass and its velocity. It is also a vector quantity and represents the quantity of motion an object possesses. In simple terms, momentum combines both the object's speed and its mass, making it a more complex measure of motion than velocity.

To illustrate these concepts, Sean Carroll uses classical mechanics, noting that momentum equals mass times velocity, which affects various phenomena, including wave function spreading in quantum mechanics. This means heavier objects (with higher mass) will have greater momentum even at lower velocities compared to lighter objects at the same speed 1 2.