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
0.5 kgv = ?

A 0.5 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 150 N for 10 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.5 kgFavg = 150 NΔt = 10 ms
v = m/s
2.Easy
1000 kg25 m/s1000 kg

A 1000 kg car moving at 25 m/s runs into a stationary 1000 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 = 25 m/sm2 = 1000 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
3.Medium
2 kgv = ?5 gh = 9 cm

A 5 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 2 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 9 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 5 gM = 2 kgh = 9 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
4.Medium
4.5 kgv = ?20 gh = 17 cm

A 20 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 4.5 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 17 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 20 gM = 4.5 kgh = 17 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
5.Hard
24 m/s9 m/s

A 0.45 kg ball hits a wall at 24 m/s and bounces straight back at 9 m/s. The contact lasts 10 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.45 kgvin = 24 m/svout = 9 m/sΔt = 10 ms
J = N·s
6.Hard
8 m/s19 m/s

A 0.25 kg ball hits a wall at 8 m/s and bounces straight back at 19 m/s. The contact lasts 40 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.25 kgvin = 8 m/svout = 19 m/sΔt = 40 ms
Favg = N

Answer key

  1. 1. v = 3 m/s
  2. 2. v′ = 12.5 m/s
  3. 3. v = 532.9 m/s
  4. 4. v = 412.7 m/s
  5. 5. J = 14.85 N·s
  6. 6. Favg = 168.8 N

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