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
0.05 kgv = ?

A 0.05 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 50 N for 8 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.05 kgFavg = 50 NΔt = 8 ms
v = m/s
2.Easy
800 kg14 m/s1500 kg

An 800 kg car moving at 14 m/s runs into a stationary 1500 kg car. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 800 kgv1 = 14 m/sm2 = 1500 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
3.Medium
2 kg49 m/s2 kgv′2​ = ?

A 4 kg projectile moving horizontally at 16 m/s explodes into two fragments that move along the same line. The 2 kg fragment continues forwards at 49 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the 2 kg fragment (positive in the original direction).

M = 4 kgu = 16 m/sm1 = 2 kgv′1 = 49 m/sm2 = 2 kg
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
2.5 kgv = ?12 gh = 11 cm

A 12 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 2.5 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 11 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 12 gM = 2.5 kgh = 11 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
5.Hard
11 m/s6 m/s

A 0.5 kg ball hits a wall at 11 m/s and bounces straight back at 6 m/s. The contact lasts 5 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.5 kgvin = 11 m/svout = 6 m/sΔt = 5 ms
J = N·s
6.Hard
1600 kgv1​ = ?1100 kg

A 1600 kg car runs into a parked 1100 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 5.5 m before stopping. The coefficient of kinetic friction between tyres and road is 0.8. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v1 of the first car just before the collision.

m1 = 1600 kgm2 = 1100 kgd = 5.5 mμ = 0.8g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. v = 8 m/s
  2. 2. v′ = 4.87 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = −17 m/s
  4. 4. v = 307.5 m/s
  5. 5. J = 8.5 N·s
  6. 6. v1 = 15.68 m/s

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