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
1800 kg6 m/s1300 kg

A 1800 kg car moving at 6 m/s runs into a stationary 1300 kg car. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 1800 kgv1 = 6 m/sm2 = 1300 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
2.Easy
0.5 kgv = ?

A 0.5 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 250 N for 10 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.5 kgFavg = 250 NΔt = 10 ms
v = m/s
3.Medium
0.5 kg4 m/s4.5 kg

A 0.5 kg glider moving at 4 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 4.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 0.5 kgm2 = 4.5 kgv1 = 4 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
1200 kg17 m/s1900 kg

A 1200 kg car moving at 17 m/s runs into a stationary 1900 kg car and the two lock together. What percentage ΔK/K of the original kinetic energy is lost?

m1 = 1200 kgv1 = 17 m/sm2 = 1900 kgv2 = 0
ΔK/K = %
5.Hard
1700 kgv1​ = ?1300 kg

A 1700 kg car runs into a parked 1300 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 15 m before stopping. The coefficient of kinetic friction between tyres and road is 0.7. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v1 of the first car just before the collision.

m1 = 1700 kgm2 = 1300 kgd = 15 mμ = 0.7g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s
6.Hard
27 m/s6 m/s

A 0.45 kg ball hits a wall at 27 m/s and bounces straight back at 6 m/s. The contact lasts 40 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.45 kgvin = 27 m/svout = 6 m/sΔt = 40 ms
Favg = N

Answer key

  1. 1. v′ = 3.484 m/s
  2. 2. v = 5 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = 0.8 m/s
  4. 4. ΔK/K = 61.29 %
  5. 5. v1 = 25.33 m/s
  6. 6. Favg = 371.3 N

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