Activity 4: Change in momentum (40 minutes) 1 In each of the following cases: - Calculate the magnitude and direction of the ínitial momentum, final momentum and change in momentum of the object. - Draw a labelled vector diagram that shows the initial and final momentum of the object as well as its change in momentum. 1.1 A 1100 kg car accelerates along a straight road and its velocity increases from \( 10 \mathrm{~m} . \mathrm{s}^{-1} \) to \( 20 \mathrm{~m} . \mathrm{s}^{-1} \). 1.2 The brakes of a 1500 kg car are applied and its velocity decreases from \( 10 \mathrm{~m}_{\mathrm{m}} \mathrm{s}^{-1} \) to \( 2 \mathrm{~m} . \mathrm{s}^{-1} \). (10) A 440 g soccer ball approaches a goalkeeper at \( 8 \mathrm{~m} . \mathrm{s}^{-1} \) and he kicks it in the opposite direction at \( 10 \mathrm{~m} . \mathrm{s}^{-1} \) (10) [30]

When it comes to momentum, understanding the historical context can be quite fascinating. Sir Isaac Newton, in the late 17th century, laid the groundwork for classical mechanics with his three laws of motion. Momentum, defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity (p = mv), was essentially rooted in these principles. This foundational understanding allowed the exploration of various phenomena, from the simplest collisions to complex systems in astrophysics, reinforcing the idea that motion and forces are deeply interconnected in our universe. Now, if you're tackling momentum problems like these, a common pitfall is miscalculating the change in momentum by neglecting to consider the direction of the velocity. Remember, momentum is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. When the direction changes, particularly with the soccer ball, it's crucial to factor that into your calculations. Draw out vector diagrams; visually representing the initial and final momenta alongside the change helps clarify how to approach these problems effectively!