P(Momentum)

[devrimci_kürt]

Why does physics use the symbol p to represent momentum? It doesn't seem to fit because there is no p in momentum

I know, m stands for mass. but Why p in momentum?

[CaptainPanic]

Because M is mass, and Mo is molybdenum?

 

Actually I don't know... Google however seems to suggest there is an answer:

 

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071203033226AASQ8Hl

...but I cannot judge if it is valid.

[timo]

Because M is mass, and Mo is molybdenum?

That seems to assume the people who introduced the concept were speaking English. While it may be (e.g. Newton) it may as well be wrong (da Vinci, Galileo, Gauss, ... whatdoIknowwhoelse).

 

EDIT: Oh, and I now see that the OP seemed to also assume it.

Edited November 17, 2009 by timo

[ydoaPs]

It's actually rho.

[Bob_for_short]

... but Why p in momentum?

Because it's a push.

[Mr Skeptic]

It's actually rho.

 

No, it's a p, usually in bold to mark it as a vector. Rho is usually used for density.

[michel123456]

I suppose because momentum is a product ("produit" in french)

Also found these.

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/dec99/945106537.Ph.r.html

http://www.physicspost.com/articles.php?articleId=146&page=2

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/phy00/phy00725.htm

[DJBruce]

I suppose because momentum is a product ("produit" in french)

 

However, force, and gravitational potential energy are also calculated by a product yet they aren't given the symbol P.

 

I would guess that there truely isn't a reason that the symbol P is used for momentum other than it wasn't being used to represent anything at the time.