How do police determine the speed of a car that has hit a stopped vehicle? Scholars determine the momentum of the car system both before and after a collision. They identify instances where the law of conservation of momentum appears to be broken. Law Enforcement officers use this information to determine if the driver of the car told the truth about the speed they were going when hitting the other car. The lesson fits as part of a series on Momentum and Collisions.

Concepts

conservation of momentum, mass, velocity

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Work the Apprentice level together as a demonstration before assigning the other two levels as independent work

Classroom Considerations

• Relies on prior knowledge of conservation of momentum, how to calculate momentum, and the transfer of energy
• Skill builder adapts to any screen size, so it works on smartphones, tablets, computers, and more

Pros

• Offers a Help Me button walking users through how to approach and solve each problem
• Applies to familiar situations for new drivers

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.9-10.3 RST.11-12.3