momentum
moh-MEN-tuhm
/məʊˈmɛntəm/
The quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity.
In sports, it often refers to the 'oomph' or driving force that keeps an athlete moving.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin 'movimentum,' which simply means movement. In physics and sports, it describes the 'oomph' a moving object has that keeps it going. It shares a root with 'moment,' which was originally the smallest movement of a clock.
Word relationships
- impetus: Impetus is the force that starts a motion; momentum is the force that keeps it going.
- drive: Drive is more about the internal motivation or power source.
- stagnation: A state of no movement or progress.
Commonly confused with
- inertia: Inertia is the resistance to change in motion; momentum is the motion itself.
Word family
- momentous (adjective): Of great importance (note the shift in meaning).
Collocations
- gain momentum
- lose momentum
- forward momentum
Idioms & expressions
- gather momentum (to increase in speed or force)
Example sentences
- "The bobsled gained momentum as it plummeted down the track, reaching speeds that made the turns feel like a blur." Describing a bobsled run.
- "Momentum is mass in motion, and all objects have mass; so if an object is moving, then it has momentum." A basic physics definition.
Memory hook
Think of a 'Mom' pushing a swing—she gives it 'Momentum'. Momentum = Mass in Motion.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'moment,' which refers to a point in time.
Fun facts
- The law of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant.
- In sports psychology, 'momentum' is often used to describe a team's psychological advantage after a series of successes.
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