Final answer:
The amount of momentum an object has depends on its mass and velocity, with momentum itself being a vector quantity that has magnitude and direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount of momentum an object has depends on two key quantities: its mass and its velocity. Momentum (represented by the symbol p) is directly proportional to these quantities, which means that the greater the mass or the greater the velocity of an object, the greater its momentum.
It's important to note that momentum is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction, and it is measured in the SI unit of kilogram-meter per second (kg·m/s). The directional aspect of momentum implies that an object moving in a certain direction will have momentum in that direction.
To give an example, a large, fast-moving vehicle like a truck will have a significantly higher momentum than a small, slow-moving bicycle, assuming they are moving in the same direction. This concept is a cornerstone of classical mechanics and is described by Newton's laws of motion.