8th Investigation 8 - Momentum

8th Investigation 8 Momentum

In Momentum students learn to analyze collision interactions in terms of momentum and impulse.

Part 1~Crashes and Momentum~
Students investigate momentum and discover that it is proportional to mass and velocity: the greater the velocity and/or mass, the greater the momentum. They use electronic Dotcars to determine that the greater the momentum of the car, the greater the force needed to reduce its momentum to zero. Momentum applications are studied in a car-crash video.

Part 2 ~Bean Brains~
Students use information about impulse introduced in the car-crash video to engineer a device or protective environment that will allow a fragile bean brain to survive a fall or collision. They learn that the key to success is extending the time over which force is applied to the bean brain to bring its momentum to zero.