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
0.5 kgv = ?

A 0.5 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 400 N for 12 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.5 kgFavg = 400 NΔt = 12 ms
v = m/s
2.Easy
1400 kg9 m/s500 kg9 m/s

A 1400 kg car moving at 9 m/s collides head-on with a 500 kg car moving at 9 m/s in the opposite direction. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 1400 kgv1 = 9 m/sm2 = 500 kgv2 = −9 m/s
v′ = m/s
3.Medium
0.5 kg6 m/s3.5 kg

A 0.5 kg glider moving at 6 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′1 of the first glider after the collision (positive in its original direction).

m1 = 0.5 kgm2 = 3.5 kgv1 = 6 m/sv2 = 0
v′1 = m/s
4.Medium
13 kg58 m/s7 kgv′2​ = ?

A 20 kg projectile moving horizontally at 22 m/s explodes into two fragments that move along the same line. The 13 kg fragment continues forwards at 58 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the 7 kg fragment (positive in the original direction).

M = 20 kgu = 22 m/sm1 = 13 kgv′1 = 58 m/sm2 = 7 kg
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
16 m/s12 m/s

A 0.2 kg ball hits a wall at 16 m/s and bounces straight back at 12 m/s. The contact lasts 50 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.2 kgvin = 16 m/svout = 12 m/sΔt = 50 ms
J = N·s
6.Hard
22 m/s15 m/s

A 0.45 kg ball hits a wall at 22 m/s and bounces straight back at 15 m/s. The contact lasts 5 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.45 kgvin = 22 m/svout = 15 m/sΔt = 5 ms
Favg = N

Answer key

  1. 1. v = 9.6 m/s
  2. 2. v′ = 4.263 m/s
  3. 3. v′1 = −4.5 m/s
  4. 4. v′2 = −44.86 m/s
  5. 5. J = 5.6 N·s
  6. 6. Favg = 3330 N

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