# Difference between momentum and kinetic energy

From a mathematical point of view it seems to be clear what's the difference between momentum and $mv$ and kinetic energy $\frac{1}{2} m v^2$. Now my problem is the following: Suppose you want to explain someone without mentioning the formulas what's momentum and what's kinetic energy. How to do that such that it becomes clear what's the difference between those two quantities?

From physics I think one can list essentially the following differences:

1. momentum has a direction, kinetic energy not

2. momentum is conserved, kinetic energy not (but energy is)

3. momentum depends linear on velocity, kinetic energy depends quadratically on velocity

I think is is relatively easy to explain the first two points using everyday language, without referring to formulas.

However is there a good way to illustrate the 3. point?

• – Qmechanic Oct 25 '11 at 9:50

## 3 Answers

As a qualitative understanding, here's an example:

If you shoot a bullet, the rifle recoils with the same momentum as the bullet, but the bullet has a lot more Kinetic energy. Aren't you glad your shoulder is being hit by the rifle stock, and not by the bullet?

• Does the rifle really not have a comparable amount of kinetic energy? It could be that it's just not as harmful as the bullet because it's slower (due to higher mass) and has a much larger surface area that's flat in contrast to the sharp bullet. It really is not clear to me how fast the rifle would go if it weren't held by someone while being fired. – Everyday Astronaut Jan 9 '18 at 12:29
• @DrDoolittle: momentum $= mv$, right? and kinetic energy $=mv^2/2$, right? OK, so increase the mass 100 times and divide the velocity by 100. Same momentum, right? $100mv/100 = mv$ But what does it do to the kinetic energy? $100m(v/100)^2/2 = mv^2/100/2$. So by increasing the mass 100 times, for the same momentum, we've cut the kinetic energy by a factor of 100. – Mike Dunlavey Jan 9 '18 at 17:25
• Correct. So it's all about point 2 of the OP. My confusion persists, however, since I wonder why kinetic energy is "dangerous" but momentum isn't. That's probably a philosophical question... I guess I must stop subconsciously thinking that momentum and energy are somehow similar ... they are not. – Everyday Astronaut Jan 9 '18 at 20:06
• @DrDoolittle: Momentum is conserved, and energy is conserved, of the ensemble, bullet and gun together. The momentum before firing is zero, and so it is after, split into equal parts going in opposite directions. The energy before firing is non-zero, it is chemical energy. Firing changes it into kinetic (and heat) energy, shared by both bullet and gun, but more in the bullet because it has higher speed. Note that momentum has a direction, but energy does not. It's positive either way, because it's squared. – Mike Dunlavey Jan 9 '18 at 21:59
• The essence of the difference seems to lie in the emphasis on velocity in the energy equation. I think the OP is attempting to conceptualize how this can be. I know I am. – Tom Russell Jan 31 '18 at 8:15

As a matter of fact, the second point couldn't be more wrong. Momentum is far more ubiquitous than kinetic energy since it is a conserved quantity of every physical system that is translationally invariant.

With respect to your question, user Gerard gave an explanation as intuitive as it gets here

• Yes, sorry. I too narrowly thought about elementary macroscopic physics. What I had in mind was that kinetic energy can be converted to thermic energy, however that there is no analogue of momentum in thermodynamics, but perhaps I am wrong and there is also momentum in thermodynamics... – martin Oct 25 '11 at 10:37

Consider two equal size lumps of wet clay moving toward each other at the same speed. Things are moving. But the center of mass is not. After they smush into each other, the resultant lump is not moving. Two lumps move in almost the same direction. They tap each other, and and the resultant lump keeps going.

It seems we need two different ways of measuring motion to make sense of this. The motion of the parts is much the same, but the total is very different.

Momentum might be loosely defined as the quantify of motion. $$\vec p=m\vec v$$. If two objects move at the same speed, the more massive one has a bigger quantity of motion. Of two equal mass objects, the faster one has more motion.

Momentum is a vector. It has a direction and magnitude. The direction is the same as velocity. Momentum adds like a vector. Two momenta in opposite directions cancel. The total momentum of the two lumps in opposite directions is $$0$$. This idea is useful for expressing the total motion of a compound object.

Energy might loosely be defined as the ability to change things. Energy has many forms that can be converted into each other.

• Kinetic energy is energy of a moving object. A bullet can poke a hole in its target. $$E = mgh$$.
• Potential energy is energy that comes from forces acting on a object. Shoot a bullet straight up. As it rises, it slows to a stop, losing all its kinetic energy. Because of its height and because of gravity, it will fall, gaining back all that kinetic energy. For such a bullet, it can be shown that $$E = mgh = \frac{1}{2}mv^2$$.
• Chemical energy is stored in molecular bonds. In a bomb, a chemical reaction can create fragments that have a lot of kinetic energy, much like bullets.

Energy has a magnitude, but not a direction. For example, there is no direction in chemical energy.

There is an obvious direction to kinetic energy, but this is purposely not part of what kinetic energy is. Kinetic energy is a number.

Kinetic energy is good for measuring the motion of all the parts of a compound object. The kinetic energy of two lumps of clay is the same, whether they move toward each other or away. It is the sum of the energies of the parts. Two lumps of clay deform when they smush into each other. If they more in the same direction and just tap each other, they can still smush when they hit something else.