ScienceAugust 14, 2026

momenta

moh-MEN-tuh

Definition

The plural of momentum; the quantity of motion an object has, calculated as the product of its mass and velocity.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'momentum,' which originally meant 'movement' or 'moving power,' combining 'movere' (to move) with the suffix '-mentum'.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe how researchers measured the electrons' energies and momenta to reconstruct the electronic band structure of the material.

Electrons Mysteriously Slow to a Crawl Inside This Magnetic Material

Read the full article ↗

SciTechDaily

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.