OPENING QUESTION:

Why is it, do you suppose, that one of the biggest dangers to humans on the International Space Station are small floating bits of debris such as paint chips and nuts and bolts?

This is a picture of windshield of one of the (former) Space Shuttles. Further analysis found that it had been struck by a paint chip while in orbit

WORDS O' THE DAY:

• momentum (p=mv)
• impulse (∆p or F∆T)

FORMULAE OBJECTUS:

p=mv

J = ∆p

J = F∆t

WORK O' THE DAY:

We had a request to begin our conversations on momentum by ... what else? surfing

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Terms du jour --

momentum is defined to be:

p = (mass) x (velocity)

impulse (J) has two different definitions:

J = a change in momentum => Δp

J = (force) x (change in time) => F Δ T

which, not surprisingly means several different mathematical definitions that are interchangeable:

J = Δp = mΔv

J = F Δ T

And since J is equal to different physical quantities we can set those equal to each other:

J = Δp = mΔv = F Δ T

Notice the first two terms are just change in momentum whilst the last terms is FΔT

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Let's take a gander at THIS graphic

Let's take a bit of birdwalk and talk about the Planetary Protection Officer.

Why do we need such a thing? Why do we care and what does that have to do with momentum?

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