Lesson 6.06 Momentum and Collisions

• Introduction
• Learn
• Try It
• Task

Introduction

We know from Newton's First Law that a moving object will continue to move in a straight line unless acted upon by a force (a push or pull) that changes its direction. Without friction, an object would start to move and continue to move until it hit something or some force acted upon it. In this lesson, we will explain how momentum can occur even when no net external force acts on the system.

Newton's cradle is one name for this device, which illustrates the conservation of momentum.

 

Lesson Objectives

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to... Define and describe momentum and impulse Calculate the momentum of objects in a system Enduring Understandings You can mathematically show that momentum is conserved in systems that are not acted on by an outside force. The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Physical Science standards: 9. This lesson incorporates the following Literacy Standards: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R10, W1, W2, W3, W4, W9, and W10.