What term describes the product of the mass of an object and its velocity?

The term that describes the product of the mass of an object and its velocity is momentum. Momentum is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. Mathematically, it is expressed as the formula p = mv, where p represents momentum, m is the mass, and v is the velocity. This relationship highlights that the greater the mass or the velocity of an object, the greater its momentum will be.

Understanding momentum is crucial in the context of physics and biomechanics, especially when analyzing the movement of bodies in exercise and sport. For example, when considering how an object moves after being struck or thrown, knowing the momentum can help predict the outcome of that interaction based on the object's mass and velocity at the moment of contact.

The other terms listed, such as inertia, acceleration, and kinetic energy, describe different concepts that are related to motion but do not match the definition of momentum. Inertia refers to an object's resistance to changes in its state of motion, acceleration describes the rate of change of velocity, and kinetic energy represents the energy an object possesses due to its motion. Hence, momentum specifically captures the relationship between mass and velocity, distinguishing it from these other terms.