Momentum & collisions worksheet with answers

Free printable Momentum & collisions worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy
0.2 kgv = ?

A 0.2 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 450 N for 4 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.2 kgFavg = 450 NΔt = 4 ms
v = m/s
2.Easy
1400 kg23 m/s2000 kg

A 1400 kg car moving at 23 m/s runs into a stationary 2000 kg car. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 1400 kgv1 = 23 m/sm2 = 2000 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
3.Medium
9 kg34 m/s1 kgv′2​ = ?

A 10 kg projectile moving horizontally at 10 m/s explodes into two fragments that move along the same line. The 9 kg fragment continues forwards at 34 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the 1 kg fragment (positive in the original direction).

M = 10 kgu = 10 m/sm1 = 9 kgv′1 = 34 m/sm2 = 1 kg
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
2.5 kg7 m/s4.5 kg

A 2.5 kg glider moving at 7 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 4.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 2.5 kgm2 = 4.5 kgv1 = 7 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
3 kgv = ?12 g20°L = 0.5 m

A 12 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 3 kg block hanging from light strings 0.5 m long, and stays in it. The strings swing out to a largest angle of 20° from the vertical. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 12 gM = 3 kgL = 0.5 mθ = 20°g = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
6.Hard
18 m/s8 m/s

A 0.35 kg ball hits a wall at 18 m/s and bounces straight back at 8 m/s. The contact lasts 40 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.35 kgvin = 18 m/svout = 8 m/sΔt = 40 ms
Favg = N

Answer key

  1. 1. v = 9 m/s
  2. 2. v′ = 9.471 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = −206 m/s
  4. 4. v′2 = 5 m/s
  5. 5. v = 193.1 m/s
  6. 6. Favg = 227.5 N

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