Enter the initial momentum, final momentum, and time into the calculator to determine the force from momentum.

Momentum to Force Formula

The following equation is used to calculate the force from momentum.

F = |Mf-Mi| / ∆t

  • Where F is the force (N)
  • Mi is the initial momentum (kg*m/s)
  • Mf is the final momentum (kg*m/s)
  • ∆t is the change in time (s)

Can Momentum be Converted to Force?

Force is defined as the change in momentum with respect to time, so you must know the change in time to convert between momentum and force.

How to Calculate Force from Momentum?

Example Problem:

The following example outlines the steps and information needed to calculate force from momentum.

First, determine the initial momentum. In this example, the initial momentum is 50kg*m/s.

Next, determine the final momentum. The final momentum in this case is 75kg*m/s.

Next, determine the change in time. The change in time is measured to be 5 seconds.

Finally, calculate the force using the formula above:

F = |Mf-Mi| / ∆t

F = |75-50| / 5

F = 5 N