Final answer:
Momentum is determined by mass and velocity, and it is the product of these two variables, often expressed as p = mv. It's a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction, and is measured in kg·m/s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two variables that determine momentum are mass and velocity. Momentum is defined as the product of an object’s mass and its velocity, which includes both speed and direction. Thus, momentum can be understood as how much 'motion' an object has. The formula for momentum is p = mv, where p represents momentum, m is mass and v is velocity. It is important to note that velocity is a vector, meaning it has both magnitude and direction; speed is purely scalar and does not have a directional component.
An object's momentum is significantly influenced by its mass and velocity: the greater the mass or the higher the velocity, the greater the momentum. This relationship means that a large, fast-moving object will have more momentum than a smaller, slower-moving one. Momentum is measured in kilogram meters per second (kg·m/s) and is considered a vector quantity because it has direction as well as magnitude.