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
3 kg5 m/s2 kg

A 3 kg trolley moving at 5 m/s runs into a 2 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 = 3 kgv1 = 5 m/sm2 = 2 kgv′1 = 2 m/s
v′2 = m/s
2.Easy
4.5 kg2.5 m/s3.5 kg

A 4.5 kg trolley moving at 2.5 m/s runs into a 3.5 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 = 2.5 m/sm2 = 3.5 kgv′1 = 0.5 m/s
v′2 = m/s
3.Medium
500 kg16 m/s1600 kg

A 500 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 = 500 kgv1 = 16 m/sm2 = 1600 kgv2 = 0
ΔK/K = %
4.Medium
5 kgv = ?12 gh = 7 cm

A 12 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 5 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 7 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 12 gM = 5 kgh = 7 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
5.Hard
1000 kgv1​ = ?2000 kg

A 1000 kg car runs into a parked 2000 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 24 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 = 2000 kgd = 24 mμ = 0.8g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s
6.Hard
8 m/s7 m/s

A 0.3 kg ball hits a wall at 8 m/s and bounces straight back at 7 m/s. The contact lasts 50 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.3 kgvin = 8 m/svout = 7 m/sΔt = 50 ms
J = N·s

Answer key

  1. 1. v′2 = 4.5 m/s
  2. 2. v′2 = 2.571 m/s
  3. 3. ΔK/K = 76.19 %
  4. 4. v = 489.5 m/s
  5. 5. v1 = 58.23 m/s
  6. 6. J = 4.5 N·s

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