1.Easy
A 600 kg car moving at 18 m/s runs into a stationary 600 kg car. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).
m1 = 600 kgv1 = 18 m/sm2 = 600 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
Momentum & collisions worksheet with answers
2.Easy
A 2 kg trolley moving at 4 m/s runs into a 1.5 kg trolley at rest. After the collision the first trolley continues in the same direction at 2 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the second trolley.
m1 = 2 kgv1 = 4 m/sm2 = 1.5 kgv′1 = 2 m/s
v′2 = m/s
3.Medium
A 1 kg glider moving at 2 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 4.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.
m1 = 1 kgm2 = 4.5 kgv1 = 2 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
A 3.5 kg glider moving at 2 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 3 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.
m1 = 3.5 kgm2 = 3 kgv1 = 2 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
A 1000 kg car runs into a parked 1900 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 18 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 = 1000 kgm2 = 1900 kgd = 18 mμ = 0.8g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s
6.Hard
A 12 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 1 kg block hanging from light strings 0.5 m long, and stays in it. The strings swing out to a largest angle of 40° from the vertical. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.
m = 12 gM = 1 kgL = 0.5 mθ = 40°g = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
Answer key
- 1. v′ = 9 m/s
- 2. v′2 = 2.667 m/s
- 3. v′2 = 0.7273 m/s
- 4. v′2 = 2.154 m/s
- 5. v1 = 48.74 m/s
- 6. v = 127.8 m/s
Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.