Without calculus students can't even explore the relationship between momentum and force. I certainly don't advocate any such derivation or even mentioning it in an algebra based course. And in a calculus based course, stating the connection and illustrating it would be more appropriate than trying to derive it. Anyway unless it's very short and sweet, imho derivations don't belong in introductory physics. Students at that level don't really have a good internal ranking of basic eqns and concepts vs derived results.
David
-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu on behalf of Jack Uretsky
Sent: Fri 8/1/2008 3:29 PM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] God as an explanation (WAS: Darwinism underattack?andthephysicsclassroom)
Hi David-
But it seems to me that the next step is the devilish one for
beginners (assuming no exposure to calculus). How do you get from
translational invariance to conservation of momentum?
Regards,
Jack