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
4.5 kg2 m/s4 kg

A 4.5 kg trolley moving at 2 m/s runs into a 4 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 = 4.5 kgv1 = 2 m/sm2 = 4 kgv′1 = 0.5 m/s
v′2 = m/s
2.Easy
4.5 kg4.5 m/s4 kg

A 4.5 kg trolley moving at 4.5 m/s runs into a 4 kg trolley at rest. After the collision the first trolley continues in the same direction at 1 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the second trolley.

m1 = 4.5 kgv1 = 4.5 m/sm2 = 4 kgv′1 = 1 m/s
v′2 = m/s
3.Medium
4 kg11 m/s5 kg

A 4 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′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 4 kgm2 = 5 kgv1 = 11 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
0.5 kg9 m/s1.5 kg

A 0.5 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′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 0.5 kgm2 = 1.5 kgv1 = 9 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
1600 kgv1​ = ?1100 kg

A 1600 kg car runs into a parked 1100 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 14 m before stopping. The coefficient of kinetic friction between tyres and road is 0.6. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v1 of the first car just before the collision.

m1 = 1600 kgm2 = 1100 kgd = 14 mμ = 0.6g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s
6.Hard
1700 kgv1​ = ?1300 kg

A 1700 kg car runs into a parked 1300 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 22.5 m before stopping. The coefficient of kinetic friction between tyres and road is 0.5. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v1 of the first car just before the collision.

m1 = 1700 kgm2 = 1300 kgd = 22.5 mμ = 0.5g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. v′2 = 1.688 m/s
  2. 2. v′2 = 3.938 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = 9.778 m/s
  4. 4. v′2 = 4.5 m/s
  5. 5. v1 = 21.66 m/s
  6. 6. v1 = 26.22 m/s

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