Momentum and Impulse Unit

Ross Gunderson

Why devote a whole unit to these?

Momentum and Angular momentum are two things that are almost always conserved! (under a certain condition) Momentum and impulse have a lot of practical implications for urban students. Deepens students understanding of Newtons Laws in relation to energy. Leads into the concepts of a closed system and an open system.

Johannes Kepler

Pierre-Simon Laplace
We may regard the present state of the universe as the effect of its past and the cause of its future. An intellect which at a certain moment would know all forces that set nature in motion, and all positions of all items of which nature is composed, nothing would be uncertain and the future just like the past would be present before its eyes.
1749-1827

General Outline
Class 1: Hook Class 2: Impulse Class 3: Impulse (project) Class 4: Momentum & Systems Class 5: Collisions and Explosions Class 6: Launch Inquiry Class 7: Mini-Earth Experiment Class 8: Going over Results

Class 9: Cases in L
Class 10: Quiz Day!

The Hook
Newtons Laws will work for every problem, but they are messy for analyzing collisions.

Lets smash things!!!!

Intro to Momentum -> matter in motion (p = mv) When is momentum conserved? (Newtons first law) Introduction to Impulse.

Down and Dirty with Impulse

What happens when I throw a tennis ball at the wall? What about an egg against the wall?

What about an egg against a sheet hanging?

What is different between the wall and sheet? Talk about a formula J = F t Problems, Problems, Problems Ranking Task as an exit ticket

Becoming Impulse-ive
Begin class by reviewing what Impulse is. Let the students think about how impulse effects their daily life. Students will work on an open ended project that allows them to present the impulse they are most thankful for, in the form of thank you cards. Students will hand their cards in as an exit ticket.

Momentum & Systems

Newtons Laws and momentum
Newtons third law shows that momentum is conserved in an interaction.

Looking at the interaction of two marbles on a desk.

Closed systems
Internal and External Forces

Key idea: Momentum is conserved for a system if there are no external forces.
Hewitt Conceptual Physics worksheets.

Collisions & Explosions For Real!

Review of Systems and momentum conservation. Two types of collisions
Elastic and Inelastic

Examples (Context based) Demos (Karts on tables or tracks) Problems, Problems, Problems

Defiant Earth
The class will begin with a review of conservation of momentum. The students will check out the site: Earth Students will examine Earths velocity as it orbits the Sun, and examine what happens as they change the eccentricity of the orbit. Main question: Is momentum conserved? It doesnt appear so since the Sun is not moving. Let the students make a prediction. Is there anything that is conserved? How would you take data on your theory?

mini-Earth Lab
Students will perform a lab with a ball on a string that will simulate a circular orbit, that is not uniformly circular. (In lab groups) Students will look for ways that they can combine their data to find a conserved combination. Groups will present their data at the end of class.

Kepler
Review what was discussed in the previous class and what students found in their lab activity.

Look at Keplers three laws of celestial bodies.

Look at Newtons laws in circular motion.

Why Kepler was so awesome! (and maybe Tycho Brahe and Johann Titius)

The Way the World might end

Students will examine interesting cases in conservation of angular momentum. The class will be asked to consider the implications of what would happen if the Earths polar ice caps melted. The class will be asked to generate their own theories as to what would happen and to argue for their theory. Students will be informed that they will be assessed based on their participation.

Summative Assessment
Students will be assessed on the material for the unit.

Many problems will be similar to ones given for homework and in-class work.
Students will be graded on their understanding of standards presented in class.

Where do we go from here?

If Energy has already been covered, then a whole new unit can be introduced.

Or if energy has been covered, it can be review in the eyes of momentum! KE = p2/2m
If Energy has not been covered; move on to energy!