Embedded Files
Success Criteria:
I am able to clearly define momentum as the product of an object's mass and velocity (p = mv).
I am able to accurately calculate the momentum of objects given their mass and velocity.
I am able to apply the law of conservation of momentum to solve problems involving collisions and explosions in one dimension.
Fun Fact
In bumper cars, the conservation of momentum explains why you feel a jolt when you crash! When two bumper cars collide, the momentum before the collision is equal to the momentum after the collision, but it’s redistributed between the cars. As a result, both cars move in opposite directions with new velocities. The sudden change in momentum during the crash creates the jolt you feel, and the energy of the collision is felt as the impact between the cars.
Key terms
Momentum is the quantity of motion an object has, calculated as the product of its mass and velocity (p = mv)
Conservation of Momentum is the principle stating that in a closed system with no external forces, the total momentum remains constant before and after a collision or interaction
Collision is an event where two or more objects come into contact with each other, exchanging momentum and energy
Elastic Collision is a type of collision in which both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved, and the objects bounce off each other without any loss of kinetic energy.
Inelastic Collision is a collision in which momentum is conserved, but kinetic energy is not; some of the kinetic energy is converted into other forms of energy, such as heat or deformation.
Learning Tasks
Chapter 12.4 questions p.382
PhET - Collision Lab
Page updated
Report abuse