- You will be working with your new table partner today. Read through the activity below and discuss your approach with your partner.
Learning Goal: I can define momentum and impulse and relate them to each other, force and time.I can apply the concept of impulse to bouncing vs. non-bouncing impacts.
Today: Water Balloon Toss
- Students form two long lines 1 meter apart facing each other and directly across from their partner. One student tosses the balloon to his/her partner. If the balloon is caught without breaking, then the team remains in the contest; any group who breaks the balloon is eliminated from the contest.
- All successful teams must now back up 1 meter. The balloons are then tossed back to the other partner. Once more if the balloon is caught without breaking, then the team remains in the contest.
- All successful teams once more back up one meter, placing them even farther apart.
- The process is continued until the winning team is identified. Once the class returns to the classroom, the variables which students tried to control and the manner in which they tried to control them is discussed.
- What did you do to keep the balloon from breaking? Why do you think it worked?
- Do you think it would have made a difference if the balloon was more filled? Less filled? Why? Explain.
- Did the speed of the balloon have anything to do with it? Explain.
- Describe what physics terms like force, acceleration, mass and time affected this activity.
Assignment:
- Due Thurs 1/11: Use any of the following resources to watch and/or read for understanding about the concepts of impulse and momentum. Take Cornell or other organized format notes. Remember that good notes include diagrams, text language, sample equations, etc.
- PhysicsClassroom.com: Lesson 1
- APlusPhysics.com: Momentum and Impulse
- Hewitt Drew It: Momentum and Impulse
- PBS Crash Course: Collisions (not very helpful with impulse, however!)