Unit Lesson Plan – Momentum
Teacher:
Grade:
<Teacher>
Time Frame:
11, 12
School:
Subject:


AP Physics C Standards:
<School>
PSI AP Physics C

NGSS DCI:
8 days
HS-PS2-2. Use mathematical representations to support the claim
that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when
there is no net force on the system.
HS-PS2-3. Apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate,
and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopic object
during a collision.
D. Systems of particles, linear momentum
1. Center of mass
a) Students should understand the technique for finding center of
mass, so they can:
(1) Identify by inspection the center of mass of a symmetrical
object.
(2) Locate the center of mass of a system consisting of two such
objects.
(3) Use integration to find the center of mass of a thin rod of nonuniform density
b) Students should be able to understand and apply the relation
between center-of mass velocity and linear momentum, and between
center-of-mass acceleration and net external force for a system of
particles.
c) Students should be able to define center of gravity and to use
this concept to express the gravitational potential energy of a rigid
object in terms of the position of its center of mass.
2. Impulse and momentum Students should understand impulse and
linear momentum, so they can:
a) Relate mass, velocity, and linear momentum for a moving object,
and calculate the total linear momentum of a system of objects.
b) Relate impulse to the change in linear momentum and the
average force acting on an object.
c) State and apply the relations between linear momentum and
center-of-mass motion for a system of particles.
d) Calculate the area under a force versus time graph and relate it
to the change in momentum of an object.
e) Calculate the change in momentum of an object given a function
F (t) for the net force acting on the object.
3. Conservation of linear momentum, collisions
a) Students should understand linear momentum conservation, so
they can:
(1) Explain how linear momentum conservation follows as a
consequence of Newton’s Third Law for an isolated system.
(2) Identify situations in which linear momentum, or a component of
the linear momentum vector, is conserved.
(3) Apply linear momentum conservation to one-dimensional
elastic and inelastic collisions and two-dimensional completely
Note that this exact Smart Notebook presentation has not been used in the classroom, although all of the
material has. The pacing below is approximate based on a 40-45 minute class period. Feel free to adjust as
necessary and please provide your feedback!
inelastic collisions.
(4) Apply linear momentum conservation to two-dimensional elastic
and inelastic collisions.
(5) Analyze situations in which two or more objects are pushed
apart by a spring or other agency, and calculate how much energy is
released in such a process.
b) Students should understand frames of reference, so they can
(1) Analyze the uniform motion of an object relative to a moving
medium such as a flowing stream.
(2) Analyze the motion of particles relative to a frame of reference
that is accelerating horizontally or vertically at a uniform rate.
Essential Questions
(What questions will the student be able to answer as a result of the instruction?)
1. What factors affect the collision of two objects?
2. How can you determine if a collision is elastic or inelastic?
3. How can changes in momentum be used to determine the net force applied to an object?
Knowledge & Skills
(What skills are needed to achieve the desired results?)
By the end of this unit, students will know:
 Perfectly elastic collisions of objects moving in
arbitrary directions
 The effect of impulse at an arbitrary angle to
initial velocity
 Inelastic collisions of objects moving in arbitrary
directions
 Collisions: Perfectly elastic, perfectly inelastic,
inelastic
 Conservation of momentum with objects moving
in arbitrary directions
By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
 Describe the relationship between impulse and
momentum
 Use conservation of momentum to solve
problems
 Understand the differences between different
types of collisions
 How to find the center of mass of an object
Assessment
(What is acceptable evidence to show desired results (rubrics, exam, etc.)? Attach Copy
During the Smart Notebook lesson designed to introduce concepts, students will be continually questioned on these
concepts using a combination of class work/homework questions and the SMART Response system. Classwork and
Homework questions will be discussed as a class and misconceptions will be addressed by the teacher prior to the
formal evaluations listed below.

Momentum Test
Other assessments on the NJCTL website are optional and can be used as needed.
(What is the sequence of activities, learning experiences, etc, that will lead to desired results (the plan)?
Topic
Classwork
Homework**
1
Conservation of Momentum
Presentation slides 1-37
MC 1-12 & FR 1, 2, 3
2
Collisions in One
Dimension
Presentation slides 38-79
MC 13-25 & FR 4, 5, 6
3
Collisions in Two
Dimensions & Center of
Mass
Presentation slides 80-117
MC 26-37 & FR 7, 8, 9
4
Rocket Science
Presentation slides 118140
MC 38-50 & FR 10, 11, 12
5
Momentum Lab
Lab
Finish Lab
6
Review
Review MC
Study for test
7
Review
Review FR
Study for test
8
Momentum Test
Test
Review next topic
Day
* It may not be possible to complete labs in the order stated due to lab schedules. Other labs on the
NJCTL website are option and can be used as needed.
**HW Problems are currently not scaffolded from least to most difficult, but are instead listed in order of
topic. Teacher should pay special attention at the end of each class period when assigning HW so that
only problems related to the topic that was taught are being assigned.