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
0.25 kgv = ?

A 0.25 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 500 N for 4 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.25 kgFavg = 500 NΔt = 4 ms
v = m/s
2.Easy
2000 kg10 m/s1000 kg7 m/s

A 2000 kg car moving at 10 m/s collides head-on with a 1000 kg car moving at 7 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 = 2000 kgv1 = 10 m/sm2 = 1000 kgv2 = −7 m/s
v′ = m/s
3.Medium
800 kg15 m/s1700 kg

An 800 kg car moving at 15 m/s runs into a stationary 1700 kg car and the two lock together. How much kinetic energy ΔK is lost in the collision?

m1 = 800 kgv1 = 15 m/sm2 = 1700 kgv2 = 0
ΔK = J
4.Medium
1 kgv = ?12 gh = 4 cm

A 12 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 1 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 4 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 12 gM = 1 kgh = 4 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
5.Hard
26 m/s15 m/s

A 0.55 kg ball hits a wall at 26 m/s and bounces straight back at 15 m/s. The contact lasts 25 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.55 kgvin = 26 m/svout = 15 m/sΔt = 25 ms
J = N·s
6.Hard
28 m/s11 m/s

A 0.1 kg ball hits a wall at 28 m/s and bounces straight back at 11 m/s. The contact lasts 5 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.1 kgvin = 28 m/svout = 11 m/sΔt = 5 ms
J = N·s

Answer key

  1. 1. v = 8 m/s
  2. 2. v′ = 4.333 m/s
  3. 3. ΔK = 61200 J
  4. 4. v = 74.71 m/s
  5. 5. J = 22.55 N·s
  6. 6. J = 3.9 N·s

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