Red Text and the Conceptual Physics Course Pack
In creating our Lesson Plans and Learning Outcomes for this course we have labeled some items with red text. These resources are part of a separate purchasable product, our Conceptual Physics Course Pack. The download contains source documents, answer keys, and teacher guides for 110 Think Sheets and 55 student labs.
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Momentum and Collisions - Lesson Plans
The lesson plans below include links to the specific resources on our website.
Teacher Guides for labs can be found
here.
NOTE: All CalcPad problem sets are customized problem sets created specifically for this course. The links direct users to the Guest version. Task Tracker users should use the link on the Task Tracker page to the trackable CalcPad version.
Day 1 of Momentum and Collisions
Lesson Plan
- Introduce unit
Discuss momentum (definition, examples, equation, units, vector)
Discuss impulse (definition, equation, units; impulse-momentum change equation)
- Pair Practice: Momentum Think Sheet (1)
- Lab 1 - Marshmallow Shooters
Fold a large note card length-wise to create a marshmallow shooter. Experiment w/varying muzzle lengths and marshmallow placement positions to determine what features make for the best marshmallow shooter. Be germ and hygiene conscious.
Post-lab: discuss impulse as depending on F•∆t and effecting the m•∆v.
Demo: use an 8' long PVC pipe with marshmallow diameter to launch a marshmallow and pierce a sheet of paper (or a few sheets of paper)
- Science Reasoning Center: Marshmallow Launcher (if time allows)
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Momentum and Its Conservation: Lesson 1, Parts a and b
- Complete Marshmallow Launcher
Day 2 of Momentum and Collisions
Lesson Plan
- Lab 2 - Balloon Toss Lab
Do as a demo lab by performing several trials throwing a balloon up vertically and catching it; the collision is the catch and the size of the force will be reflected by whether the balloon breaks or not. Vary mass of balloon, height to which balloon rises (and thus ∆velocity during collision) and the ∆t (straight-arm catch vs. cradling catch)
- Review/Discuss Momentum, Momentum Change, and Impulse
- Pair Practice: Impulse and Momentum Change Think Sheet (2)
Complete; check answers; then ...
- Concept Builder: Momentum
- Concept Builder: Impulse-Momentum Change Table (Apprentice Level only)
Homework/Announcements
- Review: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Momentum and Its Conservation: Lesson 1, Parts a and b
- Complete Concept Builders: Momentum || Impulse-Momentum Change Table
- Complete Post-lab questions of Lab 2.
Day 3 of Momentum and Collisions
Lesson Plan
- Discuss Applications of F•∆t = m∆v
Review Lab 2; discuss What affects what? and how?
Air bags, padded dashboards, bending knees when landing on a jump; retracting arm when catching a ball; padded mats on concrete walls in gyms, use of nylon ropes by mountain climbers, etc., etc.
- Pair Practice: Impulse-Momentum Change Applications Think Sheet (3)
Do, check answers, then ...
- Concept Builder: Case Studies - Impulse and Force (Master Level only)
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Momentum and Its Conservation: Lesson 1, Part c
- Minds On Physics: Mission MC2 on Impulse and Momentum Change
Day 4 of Momentum and Collisions
Lesson Plan
- Lab 3 - Explosion Analysis
Using low-friction carts on tracks with spring-compressed plungers, make a quantitative comparison (using motion detectors if available) or qualitative comparison (if not available) of the post-explosion velocities of the two carts; use three different mass ratios for the carts.
- Discuss ∆p1 = -∆p2 for explosions between cart 1 and cart 2
Develop the ideas that F1 = -F2, ∆t1 = ∆t2, I1 = -I2 (I=impulse), and ∆p1 = -∆p2
- Pair Practice: Action-Reaction and Momentum Conservation Think Sheet (4)
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Momentum and Its Conservation: Lesson 2, Parts a-c
- Minds On Physics: Mission MC4 on Force, Impulse, and Momentum Change
Day 5 of Momentum and Collisions
Lesson Plan
- Physics Interactives: Exploding Carts Simulation with Student Activity SheetDo, Do, post-lab, and complete Concept Checker
- Demonstration: Red Cart vs. Blue Cart (5)
If available, use two low friction carts (red and blue or A and B) with spring-loaded plunger; run several trials with varying mass ratios. In an effort to be quantitative, position carts on track such that the ratio of their distances to the end of track is inversely related to their mass ratios. Depress plunger and observe carts reaching opposite ends at the same time.
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Momentum and Its Conservation: Lesson 2, Part f
- Minds On Physics: Mission MC6 on Explosion-Like Impulses
Day 6 of Momentum and Collisions
Lesson Plan
- Discuss Momentum Conservation
System; isolated system; psystem = psystem'; ∆p1 = -∆p2; how to recognize if system momentum is conserved; use of a before-after momentum table or before-after momentum vectors
- Pair Practice: Explosion Analysis Think Sheet (6)
- Concept Builder: Explosions - Law Enforcement (Masters Level only)
Homework/Announcements
- CalcPad: Momentum and Collisions 1 on Explosion Analysis
Day 7 of Momentum and Collisions
Lesson Plan
- Guided/Individual Practice: Collision Analysis Think Sheet (7) (1-2 Qs)
- Physics Interactives: Collision Carts with Student Activity Sheet (Hit and Bounce Collisions)
Do, post-lab, and complete Concept Checker
- Concept Builder: Hit-and-Stick Collisions - Law Enforcement (Masters Level only)
Homework/Announcements
- Complete unfinished work from class: Hit-and-Stick Collisions - Law Enforcement || Concept Checker
Day 8 of Momentum and Collisions
Lesson Plan
- Guided/Individual Practice: Collision Analysis Think Sheet (7) (Selected Qs)
- Physics Interactives: Collision Carts with Student Activity Sheet (Hit and Bounce Collisions)
Do, post-lab, and complete Concept Checker
- If time allows: Minds On Physics: Mission MC5 on Momentum Conservation
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Momentum and Its Conservation: Lesson 2, Part d
- Minds On Physics: Mission MC5 on Momentum Conservation
Day 9 of Momentum and Collisions
Lesson Plan
- Guided/Individual Practice: Collision Analysis Think Sheet (7) (Selected Qs)
- Lab 4 - The Cart and the Brick
Mass cart and brick; collect ticker tapes; analyze tapes; calculate momentum of cart, brick, and system; conclude
- CalcPad: Momentum and Collisions 2 on Collision Analysis
Homework/Announcements
- Review: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Momentum and Its Conservation: Lesson 2, Part d
- CalcPad: Momentum and Collisions 2 on Collision Analysis
Day 10 of Momentum and Collisions
Lesson Plan
- Physics Interactives: Fish Catch with Student Activity Sheet
Do and post-lab
- Guided/Individual Practice: Momentum Conservation as a Guide to Thinking (8)
- Complete Concept Checker for Fish Catch
- If time allows, begin Mission MC10 on Momentum and Proportional Reasoning
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Momentum and Its Conservation: Lesson 2, Part e
- Minds On Physics: Mission MC10 on Momentum and Proportional Reasoning
Day 11 of Momentum and Collisions
Lesson Plan
- Discuss Test/Review
- Concept Builder: Keeping Track of Momentum: Hit and Stick Collisions (Apprentice Level only)
Homework/Announcements
- Prepare for Tomorrow's Test
- Complete all unfinished work