The linear momentum
p
of an object is given by the product of the mass
m and the velocity
v of the object:
p
= mv
This quantity is related to the total force
F
exerted on the object, by
F
= dp/dt
When the mass of the object does not depend on time,
then one obtains the usual expression for Newton's second law:
F
= dp/dt
= m dv/dt
= ma
where a
represents the acceleration of the object.
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