Collision Course - Conservation of Momentum

Open Ended

How might the ability to differentiate between elastic and inelastic collisions be useful in real-world situations?

Multiple Choice

Why is the Law of Conservation of Momentum significant in understanding collisions?

• It helps predict the outcomes of collisions accurately.

• It explains why objects move faster after a collision.

• It determines the color of colliding objects.

• It describes how energy is lost during collisions.

Drag and Drop

When no ​

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forces act on a system, the momentum of the system will remain ​

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.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

external

conserved

internal, lost

external, increased

internal, variable

Open Ended

Explain why momentum is considered a vector quantity and how this affects its calculation in physical scenarios.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best describes momentum?

• Momentum is a scalar quantity and depends only on mass.

• Momentum is a vector quantity and is the product of mass and velocity.

• Momentum is the sum of an object's mass and velocity.

• Momentum is a measure of energy transfer during collisions.

Fill in the Blank

For a closed, isolated system, what happens to the total momentum before and after a collision? Fill in the blank: The total momentum before a collision is ___ to the total momentum after the collision.

Open Ended

Compare and contrast the outcomes of elastic and inelastic collisions in terms of energy and object behavior.

Multiple Select

Select all statements that are true for elastic collisions.

• Kinetic energy is conserved.

• Momentum is conserved.

• Objects stick together after collision.

• Objects bounce apart after collision.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following features distinguishes inelastic collisions from elastic collisions?

• Kinetic energy is conserved in inelastic collisions.

• Objects bounce apart in inelastic collisions.

• Momentum is not conserved in inelastic collisions.

• Objects stick together after impact in inelastic collisions.

Fill in the Blank

In an inelastic collision, the final velocity of the combined carts is ___ than the initial velocity of Cart 1.

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements are true about elastic and inelastic collisions?

• In elastic collisions, kinetic energy is conserved.

• In inelastic collisions, the colliding objects stick together.

• Momentum is conserved in both elastic and inelastic collisions.

• In inelastic collisions, kinetic energy is always conserved.

Open Ended

Explain how momentum is conserved in both inelastic and elastic collisions, using the cart scenarios as examples.

Multiple Choice

Compare the final velocities of the carts in the inelastic and elastic collision scenarios described. What is the main reason for the difference in their final velocities?

• Inelastic: Both carts move together with a slower velocity because the mass is combined. Elastic: Cart 2 moves with the original velocity of Cart 1 because momentum is fully transferred.

• Inelastic: Both carts move together with a faster velocity because the mass is combined. Elastic: Cart 2 moves with half the velocity of Cart 1.

• Inelastic: Cart 1 stops and Cart 2 moves with the original velocity of Cart 1. Elastic: Both carts move together with a slower velocity.

• Inelastic: Cart 2 moves with the original velocity of Cart 1. Elastic: Both carts move together with a slower velocity.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the Law of Conservation of Momentum?

• Momentum is always lost during collisions.

• Momentum is transferred but the total remains constant.

• Momentum only applies to elastic collisions.

• Momentum is created during collisions.

Open Ended

Reflecting on today's lesson about the conservation of momentum, what is one concept you found most interesting or would like to explore further?