Physics is all about the what, how, and why of motion. This unit focuses on one particular kind of motion that is pretty difficult to analyze otherwise: collisions and explosions! This unit we will look at momentum and energy in colliding and exploding systems and how forces can increase/decrease the momentum of a system.
Topics we will cover in this unit:
Inelastic and Elastic Collisions Momentum and Energy and when they are conserved Explosions
By the end of the unit, the student should be able to:
Use conservation of momentum to determine unknown values
Use a force vs. time graph to determine the change in momentum of a system
State what is/is not conserved in inelastic and elastic collisions
Use impulse to calculate the change in momentum of a system