Momentum

About this lab: Momentum

Interactive simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 1.6 Momentum: two trolleys of chosen mass and velocity collide and either stick together or bounce elastically, with the momentum of each and the conserved total shown before and after, and a car hitting a wall as a rigid body or with a crumple zone, where the same change in momentum spread over a longer time gives a much smaller force, illustrated with equal-area force-time rectangles.

IGCSE Physics 0625, topic 1.6. Trolley collisions that stick or bounce with the total momentum before and after, and a crash test showing why a longer stopping time means a smaller force.

Momentum is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 (topic 1 Motion, forces and energy, section 1.6 Momentum (Extended only)). The course is assessed in Papers 1 and 2 (multiple choice), 3 and 4 (theory), 5 (practical test) and 6 (alternative to practical). There are 2 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.

Syllabus coverage

• 1.6 Define momentum as mass × velocity; recall and use the equation p = mv (Supplement)
• 1.6 Define impulse as force × time for which force acts; recall and use the equation impulse = F∆t = ∆(mv) (Supplement)
• 1.6 Apply the principle of the conservation of momentum to solve simple problems in one dimension (Supplement)
• 1.6 Define resultant force as the change in momentum per unit time; recall and use the equation F = ∆p ∆t (Supplement)
• Lessons on this topic: Momentum: p = mv and conservation, Impulse and resultant force as Δp ÷ Δt.

Full syllabus map: IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 1.

How to use this simulation

1. 1. Momentum and conservation.
2. 2. Impulse and force.
3. The buttons at the end of the tab strip give the scene the whole window (Full screen, Hide controls) and, on a dark stage, a projector-friendly palette (Light scene). Many scenes also have drag handles: drag them to change the set-up directly.

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