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
4.5 kg700 m/sV = ?

A 4.5 kg rifle, free to move, fires a 12 g bullet at 700 m/s. Both start at rest. Find the recoil speed V of the rifle.

M = 4.5 kgm = 12 gv = 700 m/s
V = m/s
2.Easy
700 kg17 m/s900 kg

A 700 kg car moving at 17 m/s runs into a stationary 900 kg car. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 700 kgv1 = 17 m/sm2 = 900 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
3.Medium
1900 kg16 m/s1600 kg

A 1900 kg car moving at 16 m/s runs into a stationary 1600 kg car and the two lock together. What percentage ΔK/K of the original kinetic energy is lost?

m1 = 1900 kgv1 = 16 m/sm2 = 1600 kgv2 = 0
ΔK/K = %
4.Medium
1500 kg25 m/s1000 kg

A 1500 kg car moving at 25 m/s runs into a stationary 1000 kg car and the two lock together. How much kinetic energy ΔK is lost in the collision?

m1 = 1500 kgv1 = 25 m/sm2 = 1000 kgv2 = 0
ΔK = J
5.Hard
19 m/s16 m/s

A 0.35 kg ball hits a wall at 19 m/s and bounces straight back at 16 m/s. The contact lasts 50 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.35 kgvin = 19 m/svout = 16 m/sΔt = 50 ms
Favg = N
6.Hard
30 m/s4 m/s

A 0.45 kg ball hits a wall at 30 m/s and bounces straight back at 4 m/s. The contact lasts 40 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.45 kgvin = 30 m/svout = 4 m/sΔt = 40 ms
J = N·s

Answer key

  1. 1. V = 1.867 m/s
  2. 2. v′ = 7.438 m/s
  3. 3. ΔK/K = 45.71 %
  4. 4. ΔK = 187500 J
  5. 5. Favg = 245 N
  6. 6. J = 15.3 N·s

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