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
1300 kg11 m/s2000 kg13 m/s

A 1300 kg car moving at 11 m/s collides head-on with a 2000 kg car moving at 13 m/s in the opposite direction. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 1300 kgv1 = 11 m/sm2 = 2000 kgv2 = −13 m/s
v′ = m/s
2.Easy
5 kg6.5 m/s4.5 kg

A 5 kg trolley moving at 6.5 m/s runs into a 4.5 kg trolley at rest. After the collision the first trolley continues in the same direction at 0.5 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the second trolley.

m1 = 5 kgv1 = 6.5 m/sm2 = 4.5 kgv′1 = 0.5 m/s
v′2 = m/s
3.Medium
1.5 kg11 m/s4 kg

A 1.5 kg glider moving at 11 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 4 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′1 of the first glider after the collision (positive in its original direction).

m1 = 1.5 kgm2 = 4 kgv1 = 11 m/sv2 = 0
v′1 = m/s
4.Medium
3.5 kg4 m/s1 kg

A 3.5 kg glider moving at 4 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 1 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′1 of the first glider after the collision (positive in its original direction).

m1 = 3.5 kgm2 = 1 kgv1 = 4 m/sv2 = 0
v′1 = m/s
5.Hard
4 kgv = ?20 g15°L = 1.1 m

A 20 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 4 kg block hanging from light strings 1.1 m long, and stays in it. The strings swing out to a largest angle of 15° from the vertical. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 20 gM = 4 kgL = 1.1 mθ = 15°g = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
6.Hard
1200 kgv1​ = ?1700 kg

A 1200 kg car runs into a parked 1700 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 22 m before stopping. The coefficient of kinetic friction between tyres and road is 0.7. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v1 of the first car just before the collision.

m1 = 1200 kgm2 = 1700 kgd = 22 mμ = 0.7g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. v′ = −3.545 m/s
  2. 2. v′2 = 6.667 m/s
  3. 3. v′1 = −5 m/s
  4. 4. v′1 = 2.222 m/s
  5. 5. v = 172.4 m/s
  6. 6. v1 = 42.01 m/s

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