Exploring Linear Momentum
How much momentum is released when the cars collide?Copyright https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Association_for_Immediate_Care#/media/File:Head_On_Collision.jpg
Students learn about the physical force of linear momentum — movement in a straight line — by using the associated activities to investigate collisions. They learn an equation that engineers use to describe momentum. Students also investigate the psychological phenomenon of momentum; they see how the "big mo" of the bandwagon effect contributes to the development of fads and manias, and how modern technology and mass media accelerate and intensify the effect.
Whether it is a truck, a washing machine or a wind turbine, engineers commonly design products that move, so momentum is an important part of their design considerations. Over the years, engineers have been successful in using their knowledge of the force-momentum relationship to make vehicles safer in collisions. For example, vehicle front ends are especially designed to crumple, as a protective measure to reduce the forces felt by the occupants. Car safety seats are also designed to protect small children from accident forces.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Explain how linear momentum depends on both mass and velocity.
- Differentiate between elastic and inelastic collisions.
- Describe why modern cars are safer in collisions than older ones.
- Relate linear momentum to its equation.
- Explain Newton's third law of motion.