Essential idea: Conservation of momentum is an example of a law that is never violated.
Understandings: Newton’s second law expressed in terms of rate of change of momentum; Impulse and force–time graphs
Applications and skills: Applying conservation of momentum in simple isolated systems including (but not limited to) collisions, explosions, or water jets; Using Newton’s second law quantitatively and qualitatively in cases where mass is not constant
Guidance: Students should be aware that F = ma is equivalent of F = ∆p / ∆t only when mass is constant
Data booklet equations: None