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
0.45 kgv = ?

A 0.45 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 750 N for 12 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.45 kgFavg = 750 NΔt = 12 ms
v = m/s
2.Easy
4.5 kg4 m/s5 kg

A 4.5 kg trolley moving at 4 m/s runs into a 5 kg trolley at rest. After the collision the first trolley continues in the same direction at 0.5 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the second trolley.

m1 = 4.5 kgv1 = 4 m/sm2 = 5 kgv′1 = 0.5 m/s
v′2 = m/s
3.Medium
3 kgv = ?12 gh = 20 cm

A 12 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 3 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 20 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 12 gM = 3 kgh = 20 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
4.Medium
5 kg7 m/s2 kg

A 5 kg glider moving at 7 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 2 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 5 kgm2 = 2 kgv1 = 7 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
1400 kgv1​ = ?1200 kg

A 1400 kg car runs into a parked 1200 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 21.5 m before stopping. The coefficient of kinetic friction between tyres and road is 0.75. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v1 of the first car just before the collision.

m1 = 1400 kgm2 = 1200 kgd = 21.5 mμ = 0.75g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s
6.Hard
15 m/s14 m/s

A 0.5 kg ball hits a wall at 15 m/s and bounces straight back at 14 m/s. The contact lasts 25 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.5 kgvin = 15 m/svout = 14 m/sΔt = 25 ms
Favg = N

Answer key

  1. 1. v = 20 m/s
  2. 2. v′2 = 3.15 m/s
  3. 3. v = 497.2 m/s
  4. 4. v′2 = 10 m/s
  5. 5. v1 = 33.03 m/s
  6. 6. Favg = 580 N

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