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.

New worksheetPractise online with hints

For teachers: free to print, copy and use in class. Every new worksheet has new values and its own answer key. A link to ExamProblems on your course page is appreciated.

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy
700 kg19 m/s1900 kg9 m/s

A 700 kg car moving at 19 m/s collides head-on with a 1900 kg car moving at 9 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 = 700 kgv1 = 19 m/sm2 = 1900 kgv2 = −9 m/s
v′ = m/s
2.Easy
2000 kg13 m/s2000 kg8 m/s

A 2000 kg car moving at 13 m/s collides head-on with a 2000 kg car moving at 8 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 = 13 m/sm2 = 2000 kgv2 = −8 m/s
v′ = m/s
3.Medium
1.5 kg6 m/s0.5 kg

A 1.5 kg glider moving at 6 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 0.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 1.5 kgm2 = 0.5 kgv1 = 6 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
3.5 kg10 m/s2.5 kg

A 3.5 kg glider moving at 10 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 2.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 3.5 kgm2 = 2.5 kgv1 = 10 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
23 m/s4 m/s

A 0.1 kg ball hits a wall at 23 m/s and bounces straight back at 4 m/s. The contact lasts 25 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.1 kgvin = 23 m/svout = 4 m/sΔt = 25 ms
Favg = N
6.Hard
1400 kg11 m/s900 kg13 m/sv′ = ?

At a crossing a 1400 kg car travelling east at 11 m/s collides with a 900 kg car travelling north at 13 m/s. The cars lock together. Find the speed v′ of the wreck just after the collision.

m1 = 1400 kgv1 = 11 m/s (E)m2 = 900 kgv2 = 13 m/s (N)
v′ = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. v′ = −1.462 m/s
  2. 2. v′ = 2.5 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = 9 m/s
  4. 4. v′2 = 11.67 m/s
  5. 5. Favg = 108 N
  6. 6. v′ = 8.409 m/s

Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.