Physics is all about the what, how, and why of motion. This unit we will be discussing a type of motion that was difficult, if not impossible, to analyze before hand: collisions and explosions! This unit is about momentum, how it is conserved in all collisions and explosions, and how changes in momentum are due to impulse.
Topics we will cover in this unit:
Momentum Inelastic and Elastic Collisions Impulse Explosions
By the end of the unit, the student should be able to:
Calculate unknown values in a system where momentum is conserved
State what kind of collision is occurring and calculate the energy in the system / lost energy in the system
Use impulse to calculate the change in momentum
Use the area underneath a force vs. time graph / Integrate force w.r.t. time to calculate impulse
Determine the center of mass of a system using symmetry or by calculations