Lesson: Conservation of Momentum Physics

Students will be able to

• use the formula in contexts where v can vary and where there are up to two different objects that change in velocity,
• find the combined momentum of two objects when their velocities are either in the same direction or in opposite directions,
• show that if momentum is conserved, the combined momentum of a pair of objects is unchanged when both of the objects change their speeds,
• show that if momentum is conserved, when an object breaks into pieces, the combined momentum of the pieces is equal to the momentum of the unbroken object,
• distinguish between changes in velocities of pairs of objects in which momentum is or is not conserved.