AP Physics B Objectives

Links:

College Board Topic I:
Newtonian Mechanics

Topics:

4. Systems of particles, linear momentum
1. Impulse and momentum
2. Conservation of linear momentum, collisions

Time Range:
1.5 weeks

Suggested Teaching Strategies:

• Use airtracks or dynamics carts with built-in push springs to demonstrate conservation of momentum (see core lab). Use Velcro on air gliders or dynamics carts to illustrate inelastic coupled collisions.
• Demonstrate difference between elastic and inelastic collisions with "happy" and "sad" rubber balls made of different compounds.
• Demonstrate more complex collisions using pucks on an air table.

Aligned Resources:

• Core Lab 8: Linear Momentum
• Demonstration equipment: "Happy" and "Sad" rubber balls (neoprene and polynorbornene rubber), air table with pucks
• Interactive Physics simulations: 2delastc.ip, 2dinlstc.ip, colision.ip, momexamp.ip
• Videotape: The Mechanical Universe - Conservation of Momentum
• Videotape: ESPN Sports Figures: Running with Momentum and Relaxing with Impulse

Revision Date:
December 2003