Comoving momentum ($\mathbf{q}=a{\mathbf{p}}_{\mathrm{phys}}$)

Spatial translation symmetry in a flat FRW metric conserves the covariant canonical momentum $q_i=m{a}^{2}d{x}^i/ds$ of a freely falling massive particle. An orthonormal spatial frame gives $p_{\mathrm{phys},i}=q_i/a$, so physical momentum redshifts as $a^{-1}$ even while the particle changes from relativistic to nonrelativistic motion. The local energy is $E=\sqrt{m^2+q^2/a^2}$ and the coordinate velocity is $d\mathbf{x}/dt=\mathbf{q}/[a\sqrt{q^2+m^2{a}^2}]$.

A freely falling particle's physical momentum is measured in the local orthonormal frame of a comoving observer. With proper peculiar velocity $\mathbf{v}=ad\mathbf{x}/dt$ and Lorentz factor $\gamma =(1-v^2{)}^{-1/2}$, it is $m\gamma \mathbf{v}$. It differs by one factor of the scale factor from the conserved comoving momentum. For a nonrelativistic particle, its peculiar velocity therefore decays as $a^{-1}$.