Physics 0625 ยท Chapter
Momentum
3 revision notes on Momentum for Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625). 93 past-paper questions on this chapter to practise.
- Syllabus
- 1.6
- Weighting
- ~6โ8 marks
- Tier
- Extended only
Notes
Momentum and Newton's 2nd Law
Momentum definition ยท 2 min read
Conservation of momentum
Conservation of momentum ยท 3 min read
Impulse and safety applications
Impulse and resultant force ยท 3 min read
What you need to know
- Define momentum as the product of mass and velocity: p = mv
- Recall and use the equation p = mv, rearranging to find mass or velocity
- State that momentum is a vector quantity with the same direction as velocity
- State the principle of conservation of momentum: total momentum is conserved in the absence of external forces
- Apply conservation of momentum to collisions and explosions in a straight line
- Distinguish between elastic collisions (KE conserved) and inelastic collisions (KE not conserved)
- Define impulse as the product of force and time: impulse = Fฮt = ฮp
- Use F = ฮp/ฮt to calculate force, change in momentum or time of contact
- Find the impulse from the area under a forceโtime graph
- Explain how increasing the time of a collision reduces the force, with examples from crash safety
Syllabus subtopics
- Momentum definition
- Conservation of momentum
- Impulse and resultant force