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
2.5 kg5 m/s5 kg

A 2.5 kg trolley moving at 5 m/s runs into a 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 = 2.5 kgv1 = 5 m/sm2 = 5 kgv′1 = 0.5 m/s
v′2 = m/s
2.Easy
1000 kg11 m/s1900 kg

A 1000 kg car moving at 11 m/s runs into a stationary 1900 kg car. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 1000 kgv1 = 11 m/sm2 = 1900 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
3.Medium
14 kg40 m/s1 kgv′2​ = ?

A 15 kg projectile moving horizontally at 9 m/s explodes into two fragments that move along the same line. The 14 kg fragment continues forwards at 40 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the 1 kg fragment (positive in the original direction).

M = 15 kgu = 9 m/sm1 = 14 kgv′1 = 40 m/sm2 = 1 kg
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
1 kg11 m/s5 kg

A 1 kg glider moving at 11 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 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 = 1 kgm2 = 5 kgv1 = 11 m/sv2 = 0
v′1 = m/s
5.Hard
14 m/s11 m/s

A 0.55 kg ball hits a wall at 14 m/s and bounces straight back at 11 m/s. The contact lasts 40 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.55 kgvin = 14 m/svout = 11 m/sΔt = 40 ms
J = N·s
6.Hard
13 m/s20 m/s

A 0.6 kg ball hits a wall at 13 m/s and bounces straight back at 20 m/s. The contact lasts 25 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.6 kgvin = 13 m/svout = 20 m/sΔt = 25 ms
J = N·s

Answer key

  1. 1. v′2 = 2.25 m/s
  2. 2. v′ = 3.793 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = −425 m/s
  4. 4. v′1 = −7.333 m/s
  5. 5. J = 13.75 N·s
  6. 6. J = 19.8 N·s

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