Which physical quantity can be defined as the rate of change of momentum?

The rate of change of momentum is defined as force, according to Newton's second law of motion. Momentum is the product of mass and velocity. When an object experiences a change in momentum over time, the force applied to that object can be mathematically described as the derivative of momentum with respect to time.

Thus, if an object has mass ( m ) and velocity ( v ), its momentum ( p ) is defined as ( p = mv ). When there’s a change in momentum, the force ( F ) can be expressed as ( F = \frac{\Delta p}{\Delta t} ), where ( \Delta p ) is the change in momentum and ( \Delta t ) is the change in time. This relationship establishes a direct link between force and the rate at which momentum changes, providing a clear definition of force in terms of momentum.

Energy, power, and velocity, while important, do not relate specifically to the rate of change of momentum. Energy is the capacity to do work, power quantifies the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred, and velocity describes the speed and direction of an object, but these concepts do not encompass the relationship defined by the change of momentum.