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
3 kg10 m/s0.5 kg

A 3 kg trolley moving at 10 m/s runs into a 0.5 kg trolley at rest. After the collision the first trolley continues in the same direction at 8.5 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the second trolley.

m1 = 3 kgv1 = 10 m/sm2 = 0.5 kgv′1 = 8.5 m/s
v′2 = m/s
2.Easy
0.2 kgv = ?

A 0.2 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 400 N for 4 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.2 kgFavg = 400 NΔt = 4 ms
v = m/s
3.Medium
4.5 kgv = ?5 gh = 21 cm

A 5 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 4.5 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 21 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 5 gM = 4.5 kgh = 21 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
4.Medium
1.5 kgv = ?20 gh = 21 cm

A 20 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 1.5 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 21 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 20 gM = 1.5 kgh = 21 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
5.Hard
9 m/s11 m/s

A 0.25 kg ball hits a wall at 9 m/s and bounces straight back at 11 m/s. The contact lasts 50 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.25 kgvin = 9 m/svout = 11 m/sΔt = 50 ms
Favg = N
6.Hard
12 m/s19 m/s

A 0.2 kg ball hits a wall at 12 m/s and bounces straight back at 19 m/s. The contact lasts 25 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.2 kgvin = 12 m/svout = 19 m/sΔt = 25 ms
Favg = N

Answer key

  1. 1. v′2 = 9 m/s
  2. 2. v = 8 m/s
  3. 3. v = 1829 m/s
  4. 4. v = 154.3 m/s
  5. 5. Favg = 100 N
  6. 6. Favg = 248 N

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