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
0.35 kgv = ?

A 0.35 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 300 N for 20 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.35 kgFavg = 300 NΔt = 20 ms
v = m/s
2.Easy
3 kg650 m/sV = ?

A 3 kg rifle, free to move, fires a 10 g bullet at 650 m/s. Both start at rest. Find the recoil speed V of the rifle.

M = 3 kgm = 10 gv = 650 m/s
V = m/s
3.Medium
3 kg11 m/s3.5 kg

A 3 kg glider moving at 11 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′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 3 kgm2 = 3.5 kgv1 = 11 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
2.5 kg6 m/s1 kg

A 2.5 kg glider moving at 6 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 = 2.5 kgm2 = 1 kgv1 = 6 m/sv2 = 0
v′1 = m/s
5.Hard
900 kg23 m/s1100 kg10 m/sθ = ?

At a crossing a 900 kg car travelling east at 23 m/s collides with a 1100 kg car travelling north at 10 m/s. The cars lock together. Find the direction θ of the wreck just after the collision, measured north of east.

m1 = 900 kgv1 = 23 m/s (E)m2 = 1100 kgv2 = 10 m/s (N)
θ = °
6.Hard
8 m/s13 m/s

A 0.6 kg ball hits a wall at 8 m/s and bounces straight back at 13 m/s. The contact lasts 25 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.6 kgvin = 8 m/svout = 13 m/sΔt = 25 ms
Favg = N

Answer key

  1. 1. v = 17.14 m/s
  2. 2. V = 2.167 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = 10.15 m/s
  4. 4. v′1 = 2.571 m/s
  5. 5. θ = 27.99 °
  6. 6. Favg = 504 N

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