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
500 kg14 m/s1700 kg

A 500 kg car moving at 14 m/s runs into a stationary 1700 kg car. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 500 kgv1 = 14 m/sm2 = 1700 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
2.Easy
2000 kg8 m/s1800 kg3 m/s

A 2000 kg car moving at 8 m/s collides head-on with a 1800 kg car moving at 3 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 = 8 m/sm2 = 1800 kgv2 = −3 m/s
v′ = m/s
3.Medium
4.5 kg8 m/s5 kg

A 4.5 kg glider moving at 8 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 4.5 kgm2 = 5 kgv1 = 8 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
5 kg9 m/s1.5 kg

A 5 kg glider moving at 9 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 1.5 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 = 5 kgm2 = 1.5 kgv1 = 9 m/sv2 = 0
v′1 = m/s
5.Hard
25 m/s10 m/s

A 0.6 kg ball hits a wall at 25 m/s and bounces straight back at 10 m/s. The contact lasts 20 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.6 kgvin = 25 m/svout = 10 m/sΔt = 20 ms
Favg = N
6.Hard
1600 kgv1​ = ?1600 kg

A 1600 kg car runs into a parked 1600 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 21 m before stopping. The coefficient of kinetic friction between tyres and road is 0.75. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v1 of the first car just before the collision.

m1 = 1600 kgm2 = 1600 kgd = 21 mμ = 0.75g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. v′ = 3.182 m/s
  2. 2. v′ = 2.789 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = 7.579 m/s
  4. 4. v′1 = 4.846 m/s
  5. 5. Favg = 1050 N
  6. 6. v1 = 35.16 m/s

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