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  3. AP Physics 1 - Conservation of Momentum & Collisions

ap physics 1 - conservation of momentum & collisions

originally streamed in 2020 with Peter AppsTeacher
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Learn conservation of momentum for AP Physics with clear explanations, collision examples, and FRQ practice. This review session breaks down momentum equations, elastic vs inelastic collisions, force-time graphs, and problem-solving strategies to hel ...more

curriculum note

This video references a COVID-era AP exam format (45-minute FRQ-only exam, units 1–7 only). The current AP Physics 1 exam format is different — check College Board for up-to-date exam structure.

covered in this stream

units
Unit 4 – Linear Momentum
topics
4.1 Linear Momentum4.2 Change in Momentum and Impulse4.3 Conservation of Linear Momentum4.4 Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

timestamps

  • 0:00

    Welcome and Introductions

  • 0:40

    Stream Updates and Schedule

  • 1:12

    Upcoming Q&A Sessions

  • 1:44

    Energy and Momentum FRQs

  • 2:15

    AP Test Format Changes

  • 2:47

    Momentum Review Overview

  • 3:17

    Defining Momentum

  • 3:50

    Momentum as Mass in Motion

  • 4:21

    Momentum Equation

  • 4:53

    Momentum as Vector

  • 5:25

    Changes in Momentum

  • 5:57

    Impulse Equation

  • 6:29

    Force-Time Graph Area

  • 7:00

    Conservation of Momentum

  • 8:06

    No External Forces

  • 8:37

    Conservation Laws

  • 9:08

    Newton's Third Law

  • 9:39

    Types of Collisions

  • 10:10

    Elastic Collisions

  • 10:41

    Inelastic Collisions

  • 11:12

    Kinetic Energy Loss

  • 11:57

    Solving Momentum Problems

  • 12:29

    Conservation Check Steps

  • 12:59

    Expanding Momentum Equation

  • 13:30

    Sample FRQ Introduction

  • 14:02

    Elastic Collision Example

  • 14:34

    Inelastic Collision Example

  • 15:08

    Solving Elastic Case

  • 15:38

    Before and After Momentum

  • 16:08

    Momentum of Car and Truck

  • 16:39

    Symbology and Directions

  • 17:13

    Plugging in Numbers

  • 17:45

    Truck Velocity Calculation

  • 18:17

    Solving for Unknown

  • 18:52

    Algebra and Result

  • 19:23

    Inelastic Case Setup

  • 19:55

    Sticking Together Momentum

  • 20:26

    Combined Mass Equation

  • 20:58

    Velocity Calculation

  • 21:30

    Comparing Speeds

  • 22:01

    Safer Collision Analysis

  • 22:31

    Car Momentum Change

  • 23:03

    Justification with Slides

  • 23:33

    Elastic vs Inelastic Force

  • 24:04

    Car Design for Safety

  • 24:36

    Why Inelastic is Safer

  • 25:07

    Questions on Example

  • 25:40

    Momentum Question Types

  • 26:13

    Graph-Based Questions

  • 26:45

    Force-Time Graph Lab

  • 27:16

    Units and Area

  • 27:48

    Magnitude and Direction

  • 28:21

    Impulse from Graph

  • 28:52

    Area as Delta P

  • 29:23

    Triangle Area Calculation

  • 29:58

    Units Conversion

  • 30:29

    Delta P Value

  • 31:02

    Initial Momentum

  • 31:43

    Conceptual Check

  • 32:16

    Direction of Change

  • 32:46

    Negative Delta P

  • 33:17

    Final Velocity Equation

  • 33:48

    Solving for Speed

  • 34:20

    Direction Determination

  • 34:50

    Mass of Second Cart

  • 35:21

    Conservation Equation

  • 35:54

    Algebra for Mass

  • 36:26

    Equal Opposite Impulse

  • 36:57

    Mass Calculation

  • 37:29

    Graph and Momentum Summary

  • 38:01

    Final Question Setup

  • 38:32

    Bumper Cars Scenario

  • 39:03

    Total Time Calculation

  • 39:34

    Kinematics Equations

  • 40:06

    Acceleration Time

  • 40:39

    Distance During Acceleration

  • 41:10

    Time to Speed Up

  • 41:42

    Acceleration Duration

  • 42:16

    Remaining Distance

  • 42:46

    Distance Calculation

  • 43:18

    Constant Velocity Time

  • 43:53

    Total Time Result

  • 44:24

    Kinematics Review Note

  • 44:56

    Part B Speed Calculation

  • 45:26

    Momentum Before After

  • 45:58

    Car Masses and Velocities

  • 46:29

    Separate Objects After

  • 46:59

    Equation Setup

  • 47:34

    Number Crunching

  • 48:09

    Speed Result

  • 48:40

    Direction Analysis

  • 49:11

    Elastic Check

  • 49:42

    Kinetic Energy Before

  • 50:13

    Kinetic Energy After

  • 50:46

    Energy Calculation

  • 51:21

    Not Elastic Justification

  • 51:55

    Open Q&A Session

  • 52:55

    Topic Suggestions

  • 53:27

    Future Stream Plans

  • 53:57

    Merged Stream Ideas

  • 54:31

    Class Progress Check

  • 55:02

    Upcoming Topics Review

  • 55:32

    Closing and Thanks

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Company

What's New?PricingBulk DiscountsTestimonialsFAQsEmail us

Resources

AP Exam Schedule 2027AP Exam AccommodationsAP ClassesAP ClassroomEasiest AP ClassesHardest AP ClassesAP vs IBAP vs Dual EnrollmentAP vs Honors ClassesAP Scholar Awards

history

🌎 ap world history🇺🇸 ap us history🇪🇺 ap european history

social science

✊🏿 ap african american studies🗳️ ap comparative government🚜 ap human geography💶 ap macroeconomics🤑 ap microeconomics🧠 ap psychology👩🏾‍⚖️ ap us government

english & capstone

✍🏽 ap english language📚 ap english literature🔍 ap research💬 ap seminar

arts

🎨 ap art & design🖼️ ap art history🎵 ap music theory

science

🧬 ap biology🧪 ap chemistry♻️ ap environmental science🎡 ap physics 1🧲 ap physics 2💡 ap physics c: e&m⚙️ ap physics c: mechanics

math & computer science

🧮 ap calculus ab♾️ ap calculus bc📐 ap precalculus📊 ap statistics💻 ap computer science a⌨️ ap computer science p

world languages

🇨🇳 ap chinese🇫🇷 ap french🇩🇪 ap german🇮🇹 ap italian🇯🇵 ap japanese🏛️ ap latin🇪🇸 ap spanish language💃🏽 ap spanish literature

career kickstart

💼 ap business with personal finance🔒 ap cybersecurity

go beyond AP

high school exams

✏️ PSAT🎓 Digital SAT🎒 ACT

honors classes

🍬 honors algebra II🫀 honors anatomy🐇 honors biology👩🏽‍🔬 honors chemistry💲 honors economics📐 honors geometry⚾️ honors physics📏 honors pre-calculus📊 honors statistics🗳️ honors us government🇺🇸 honors us history🌎 honors world history

college classes

👩🏽‍🎤 arts👔 business🎤 communications🏗️ engineering📓 humanities➗ math🧑🏽‍🔬 science💶 social science

hs classes

🏛️ alabama history⛰️ appalachian studies🌴 california history🌍 earth science🌐 ethnic studies🐊 florida history🍑 georgia history🌎 global studies🌺 hawaiian studies📰 journalism🪶 native american studies🌵 new mexico history🤠 oklahoma history⚗️ physical science🎙️ speech and debate🤝 texas government🤠 texas history🌲 washington state history🕊️ world religions
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© 2026 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.