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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Momentum and inertia

If you are in a plane and in nosedives and you don't have your seat belt on and you fly up to the ceiling. What is that? Is this momentum or inertia?

Is this the correct use of momentum and is the phrasing correct?

He was running so fast that his momentum took him /caused him to go into the stands.

Thank you
  

Top answer

Anonymous He was running so fast that his momentum [took him /caused him to go] into the stands. The phrasing is correct. In ordinary language we don't usually respect the strict definitions of terms used more precisely in the science of physics, so either 'momentum' or 'inertia' might be used.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous He was running so fast that his momentum [took him /caused him to go] into the stands.
  • The phrasing is correct.
  • In ordinary language we don't usually respect the strict definitions of terms used more precisely in the science of physics, so either 'momentum' or 'inertia' might be used.
  • htm Essentially, inertia is related directly just to mass whereas momentum is mass in motion, so in your sports sentence 'momentum' is the more scientifically accurate term.
  • CJ
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3 Answers
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AnonymousHe was running so fast that his momentum [took him /caused him to go] into the stands.
The phrasing is correct. In ordinary language we don't usually respect the strict definitions of terms used more precisely in the science of physics, so either 'momentum' or 'inertia' might be used.

For a more scientific explanation of the difference see
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Thanks for your clarification and the link.

Which would you most likely say "took him into the stands" caused him to go into the stands?

1 In anaccelerating car, the thing that keeps you stuck to your seat is an inertial force. Momentum is what throws you towards the windscreen if the car suddenly brakes.



2 Going by what is said in sentence 1,
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AnonymousWhich would you most likely say "took him into the stands" caused him to go into the stands?
Yes. It sounds like he crashed into the spectators!
Anonymous2 Going by what is said in sentence 1, if you are in a plane and it nosedives and you don't have your seat belt on and you fly up to the ceiling. That is inertial force, corr
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