Lesson 6 of 12 · Momentum
Experiment⭐ 30 XPMomentum in Two Dimensions
Momentum in Two Dimensions.
🎯 Your mission
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
⚡ The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
What You'll Learn
Momentum is conserved separately in each direction. For a glancing collision, resolve every velocity into x and y components, apply conservation to each axis, and recombine. This is how snooker shots and vehicle-collision reconstructions are analysed.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- two coins or pucks
- smooth flat surface
- phone camera
- graph paper
Safety First
- Secure the camera so it cannot fall onto the surface.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Film two coins or pucks colliding off-centre on a smooth surface from directly above. Step through the frames, measure the x and y velocity components before and after, and check each axis conserves momentum.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2In a two-dimensional collision, momentum is conserved:
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
“What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”
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Momentum in Two Dimensions
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
Full screen — no distractions
Checkout complete lesson on Momentum for 9th Grade
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