Lesson Plan: Momentum Physics
This lesson plan includes the objectives, prerequisites, and exclusions of the lesson teaching students how to use the formula for momentum, 𝘱 = 𝑚𝑣, to calculate the momentum of objects and calculate changes in an object’s momentum.
Objectives
Students will be able to
- use the formula in all combinations,
- demonstrate that differences in velocity imply differences in momentum,
- demonstrate that differences in mass imply differences in momentum,
- explain that momenta of multiple objects can be summed to find their total momentum,
- identify momentum as a vector quantity,
- demonstrate that momenta in opposite directions have opposite signs when summed.
Prerequisites
Students should already be familiar with
- velocity.
Exclusions
Students will not cover
- two-dimensional motion,
- exchanges of momentum between objects (the summation of the momenta of two objects is included, while the transfer of this combined momentum between said objects is not),
- forces.