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
0.1 kgv = ?

A 0.1 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 650 N for 10 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.1 kgFavg = 650 NΔt = 10 ms
v = m/s
2.Easy
0.45 kgv = ?

A 0.45 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 800 N for 2 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.45 kgFavg = 800 NΔt = 2 ms
v = m/s
3.Medium
3.5 kg8 m/s4 kg

A 3.5 kg glider moving at 8 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 4 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 3.5 kgm2 = 4 kgv1 = 8 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
14 kg51 m/s5 kgv′2​ = ?

A 19 kg projectile moving horizontally at 32 m/s explodes into two fragments that move along the same line. The 14 kg fragment continues forwards at 51 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the 5 kg fragment (positive in the original direction).

M = 19 kgu = 32 m/sm1 = 14 kgv′1 = 51 m/sm2 = 5 kg
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
15 m/s17 m/s

A 0.45 kg ball hits a wall at 15 m/s and bounces straight back at 17 m/s. The contact lasts 50 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.45 kgvin = 15 m/svout = 17 m/sΔt = 50 ms
J = N·s
6.Hard
1400 kg18 m/s800 kg24 m/sθ = ?

At a crossing a 1400 kg car travelling east at 18 m/s collides with an 800 kg car travelling north at 24 m/s. The cars lock together. Find the direction θ of the wreck just after the collision, measured north of east.

m1 = 1400 kgv1 = 18 m/s (E)m2 = 800 kgv2 = 24 m/s (N)
θ = °

Answer key

  1. 1. v = 65 m/s
  2. 2. v = 3.556 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = 7.467 m/s
  4. 4. v′2 = −21.2 m/s
  5. 5. J = 14.4 N·s
  6. 6. θ = 37.3 °

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