Teacher Resources
The Physics Classroom has been devoted to helping students, teachers, and classrooms since the 1990s. We are as passionate about that mission now as we have ever been. If you are a teacher of Physics or Physical Science, we encourage you to use our Video Tutorial with your students. And we also encourage you to consider the use of other resources on our website that coordinate with the video. We have listed a few below to help you get started.
Curriculum Corner: Momentum and Collisions
Concept Builder: Law Enforcement - Explosions
Our Concept Builder program may be the very thing your students need to solidify their learning. When combined with our Task Tracker program, it makes an excellent and cost effective homework-tracking tool. This particular one provides info about the post-explosion speeds of two carts involved in an
explosion. Students must identify which one(s) violates the law of momentum conservation. Great critical thinking!
You might also like:
Law Enforcement - Hit and Stick Collisions and
Keeping Track of Momentum - Hit and Stick Collisions
Physics Interactives; Exploding Carts
This simulation is similar to the above but it's all about explosions instead of collisions. Students alter the mass of one of the objects and observe the effect upon the post-explosion velocities of the two cars. It is accompanied by a ready-to-use activity sheet.
Physics Interactives; Collision Carts
Our Physics Interactives section includes numerous simulations in which students play with variables and observe the result. This is one of our most popular sims. Best of all, it comes with classroom-ready, printable activity sheets.
The Calculator Pad, Momentum and Collisions Section, Problems #12-#32
If you emphasize the solving of Physics word problems in your Physics course, then the Calculator Pad section can be a great tool to reference for students. There are a wide range of problems, each with an answer and an audio-guided solution. This page has several problems which require the use of momentum conservation in order to solve. Problems #12 - #16 pertain to explosions. Check it out!
Minds On Physics the App, Part 3, Missions MC5 - MC10
Minds On Physics is not for the meek. But many teachers swear by it ... particularly teachers of honors, IB, and AP Physics 1. If you've not seen it in operation, it's worth taking a look. For devoted students, it can be an awesome tool. Missions MC6 (and possibly MC5) on App #3 provide great correlation with this video lesson.
Teacher Toolkit: Momentum Conservation
Try a Teacher Toolkit ... you might be very glad that you did. Each toolkit includes annotated links to vetted resources from across the web that we feel reliably support the specific topic. Give this one on momentum conservation a try.
Mutlmedia Physics Studios ... Momentum Chapter
Here is a collection of old GIF animations from one of the oldest section of our website. While the technology is admittedly old, the lessons are current. Each animation comes with a thorough and understandable explanation.
Physics Classroom Tutorial, Momentum and Its Conservation Chapter, Lesson 2: The Law of Momentum Conservation