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
900 kg8 m/s1800 kg14 m/s

A 900 kg car moving at 8 m/s collides head-on with a 1800 kg car moving at 14 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 = 900 kgv1 = 8 m/sm2 = 1800 kgv2 = −14 m/s
v′ = m/s
2.Easy
2 kg7 m/s2.5 kg

A 2 kg trolley moving at 7 m/s runs into a 2.5 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 = 2 kgv1 = 7 m/sm2 = 2.5 kgv′1 = 0.5 m/s
v′2 = m/s
3.Medium
2 kg11 m/s0.5 kg

A 2 kg glider moving at 11 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 0.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 2 kgm2 = 0.5 kgv1 = 11 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
3 kg7 m/s3.5 kg

A 3 kg glider moving at 7 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 3.5 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 kgm2 = 3.5 kgv1 = 7 m/sv2 = 0
v′1 = m/s
5.Hard
18 m/s4 m/s

A 0.2 kg ball hits a wall at 18 m/s and bounces straight back at 4 m/s. The contact lasts 40 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.2 kgvin = 18 m/svout = 4 m/sΔt = 40 ms
Favg = N
6.Hard
11 m/s17 m/s

A 0.3 kg ball hits a wall at 11 m/s and bounces straight back at 17 m/s. The contact lasts 25 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.3 kgvin = 11 m/svout = 17 m/sΔt = 25 ms
Favg = N

Answer key

  1. 1. v′ = −6.667 m/s
  2. 2. v′2 = 5.2 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = 17.6 m/s
  4. 4. v′1 = −0.5385 m/s
  5. 5. Favg = 110 N
  6. 6. Favg = 336 N

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