I’ve always struggled to conceptualize the difference between the two. I understand their equations are different and KE being a scalar and Momentum is a vector, but to me they seem to describe the same thing … a mass moving with some velocity.
How are they different and why are they not interchangeable. Whats the best way to conceptualize their differences
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Momentum and kinetic energy differ in their fundamental properties and what they describe. Momentum is a vector quantity determined by an object’s mass and velocity, with direction being crucial. In contrast, kinetic energy is a scalar quantity solely dependent on mass and the square of velocity, with no directional component. Momentum characterizes an object’s motion and direction, while kinetic energy quantifies its capacity to do work due to that motion.
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