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

A 0.25 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 350 N for 12 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.25 kgF_avg = 350 NΔt = 12 ms

v = m/s

2.Easy

A 6 kg rifle, free to move, fires a 15 g bullet at 900 m/s. Both start at rest. Find the recoil speed V of the rifle.

M = 6 kgm = 15 gv = 900 m/s

V = m/s

3.Medium

A 1.5 kg glider moving at 7 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 3.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′₂ of the second glider after the collision.

m₁ = 1.5 kgm₂ = 3.5 kgv₁ = 7 m/sv₂ = 0

v′₂ = m/s

4.Medium

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 4 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 = 4 cmg = 9.81 m/s²

v = m/s

5.Hard

At a crossing an 800 kg car travelling east at 10 m/s collides with a 1400 kg car travelling north at 16 m/s. The cars lock together. Find the speed v′ of the wreck just after the collision.

m₁ = 800 kgv₁ = 10 m/s (E)m₂ = 1400 kgv₂ = 16 m/s (N)

v′ = m/s

6.Hard

A 0.2 kg ball hits a wall at 21 m/s and bounces straight back at 9 m/s. The contact lasts 25 ms. Find the average force F_avg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.2 kgv_in = 21 m/sv_out = 9 m/sΔt = 25 ms

F_avg = N

Answer key

1. v = 16.8 m/s
2. V = 2.25 m/s
3. v′₂ = 4.2 m/s
4. v = 355.2 m/s
5. v′ = 10.81 m/s
6. F_avg = 240 N

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