Physical Sciences K-8: Impulse and Momentum

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Impulse and Momentum

This topic is broken into units to help in formulating cohesive, effective lessons. Clicking on each unit title below will display appropriate activities, lesson plans, or labs.

Unit materials are a subset of all possible materials available for this topic, selected especially with the new physics teacher in mind. You may instead browse all materials for this topic here.

Physical Sciences K-8 Impulse and Momentum Units

This topic presents the physics of impulse and momentum along with lesson plans, activities, reference and content materials. Units are not listed in a prescribed order.

Teaching about Impulse and Momentum (3)

Activities:

Elastic and Inelastic Collision

This applet features two wagons which can undergo a collision that is either totally elastic or totally inelastic. The simulation is complex enough to allow users to set mass and initial velocity, but simple enough to promote student understanding of physical interactions in colliding systems. (Open Website)

References and Collections:

Newton's Laws in Action

One of the guiding ideas of physics is the Law of Conservation of Linear Momentum. When the external forces acting on a system equal zero, the linear momentum remains constant. This concept is fully explored in this online textbook excerpt, which includes problems involving both elastic and inelastic collision. These concepts help students build a framework for understanding the nature of atomic and subatomic phenomena. (Open Website)

Content Support For Teachers:

Observing Students' Use of Computer-based Tools During Collision Experiments

In this 2001 paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference, authors describe the effects of two teaching approaches in a classroom lab on momentum: microcomputer-based labs (MBR) and video-based labs (VBR). Results indicate that students made good use of the information in the lab, and that they spent more time talking about concepts involving conservation of momentum and energy. (Open Website)

Practical Examples for Impulse and Momentum (1)

Activities:

Skateboard Science: Mid-Air Maneuvers

This entertaining mini-lesson developed by Exploratorium engages the learner in physical activity to explore the effects of a twisting force (torque) on rotational motion. By mimicking the motion of a skateboarder, students gain intuitive understanding of the law of conservation of angular momentum. (Open Website)