Gain Momentum
Subject: Science - High School
Grades: 9-14
Overview
The laws of motion, as formulated by Sir Isaac Newton, are essential to the study of physics. By creating a concept map about momentum, students make connections between ideas and reinforce understanding.
Standards
Students develop an understanding of properties of objects and materials.
Students develop an understanding of position and motion of objects.
Skills
- Collaboration
- Concept mapping
Materials needed
Gather a variety of balls (baseball, tennis, ping pong, etc.). These will be used to demonstrate momentum, and just as important, changes in momentum.
Lesson
- Divide students into pairs and instruct them to bounce each ball on two different surfaces. They should record the drop height and subsequent rebound height using a meter stick.
- Tell students about momentum and connect information to the phenomena they observed during their activity.
- Encourage groups of students to share notes and record information in an Inspiration® diagram. Circulate among the students to check for understanding.
- Instruct groups to create a concept map that reflects their understanding of momentum.
Follow-up activity
Have students solve problems that involve elastic and inelastic collisions by using the principles of conservation of momentum and energy.
For younger students
After demonstrating momentum with the assembled props, discuss the implications of momentum in safety. For example, you could study driving, running, or throwing.
