Energy and Momentum

Physics A completed their conservation of energy labs and we'll pick up on Wednesday with a discussion of those labs and a more detailed look at kinetic energy. Physics B started these labs and folks are in varying stages of complete, so we'll take Wednesday for tying up all loose ends before moving on to potential energy on Thursday.

Intro Physics reviewed their quiz from Friday and then moved on to momentum. Make sure you can differentiate between momentum and inertia, calculate the momentum of an object given mass and velocity, recognize and work with the vector nature of momentum and solve problems using the impulse-momentum theorem. When a force acts on an object, the duration of time that force acts makes a big difference in the object's change of motion. We looked at the math behind the impulse-momentum theorem and how it explained the need for follow-through in sports and function of safety gear such as air bags and safety nets. Tomorrow, we'll look at conservation of momentum and start more math with that concept.

Honors Physics reviewed their impulse-momentum work and then moved on to conservation of momentum. In a system, barring outside influences, the momentum of the system is conserved. Each interacting object will show a momentum change, but the total value remains constant. We looked at how Newton's 3^rd law of motion and the concept of impulse accounted for conservation of momentum, then began to work problems involving conservation of momentum. On Wednesday, folks will work on a lab centered on the impulse-momentum theorem and we'll continue on with conservation of momentum on Thursday.