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
3.5 kg650 m/sV = ?

A 3.5 kg rifle, free to move, fires a 10 g bullet at 650 m/s. Both start at rest. Find the recoil speed V of the rifle.

M = 3.5 kgm = 10 gv = 650 m/s
V = m/s
2.Easy
2 kg6.5 m/s3.5 kg

A 2 kg trolley moving at 6.5 m/s runs into a 3.5 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 = 6.5 m/sm2 = 3.5 kgv′1 = 2 m/s
v′2 = m/s
3.Medium
5 kgv = ?5 gh = 12 cm

A 5 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 12 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 5 gM = 5 kgh = 12 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
4.Medium
2 kgv = ?8 gh = 22 cm

An 8 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 2 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 22 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 8 gM = 2 kgh = 22 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
5.Hard
15 m/s20 m/s

A 0.15 kg ball hits a wall at 15 m/s and bounces straight back at 20 m/s. The contact lasts 10 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.15 kgvin = 15 m/svout = 20 m/sΔt = 10 ms
J = N·s
6.Hard
1 kgv = ?20 g15°L = 1.2 m

A 20 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 1 kg block hanging from light strings 1.2 m long, and stays in it. The strings swing out to a largest angle of 15° from the vertical. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 20 gM = 1 kgL = 1.2 mθ = 15°g = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. V = 1.857 m/s
  2. 2. v′2 = 2.571 m/s
  3. 3. v = 1536 m/s
  4. 4. v = 521.5 m/s
  5. 5. J = 5.25 N·s
  6. 6. v = 45.68 m/s

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