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.

New worksheet Practise online with hints

For teachers: free to print, copy and use in class. Every new worksheet has new values and its own answer key. A link to ExamProblems on your course page is appreciated.

Name: ____________________ Date: ____________

1.Easy

A 0.4 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 600 N for 5 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.4 kgF_avg = 600 NΔt = 5 ms

v = m/s

2.Easy

A 500 kg car moving at 10 m/s runs into a stationary 1000 kg car. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m₁ = 500 kgv₁ = 10 m/sm₂ = 1000 kgv₂ = 0 m/s

v′ = m/s

3.Medium

A 2.5 kg glider moving at 5 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 0.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′₂ of the second glider after the collision.

m₁ = 2.5 kgm₂ = 0.5 kgv₁ = 5 m/sv₂ = 0

v′₂ = m/s

4.Medium

A 4 kg glider moving at 10 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′₂ of the second glider after the collision.

m₁ = 4 kgm₂ = 3.5 kgv₁ = 10 m/sv₂ = 0

v′₂ = m/s

5.Hard

A 0.6 kg ball hits a wall at 16 m/s and bounces straight back at 19 m/s. The contact lasts 20 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.6 kgv_in = 16 m/sv_out = 19 m/sΔt = 20 ms

J = N·s

6.Hard

A 0.3 kg ball hits a wall at 28 m/s and bounces straight back at 10 m/s. The contact lasts 5 ms. Find the average force F_avg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.3 kgv_in = 28 m/sv_out = 10 m/sΔt = 5 ms

F_avg = N

Answer key

1. v = 7.5 m/s
2. v′ = 3.333 m/s
3. v′₂ = 8.333 m/s
4. v′₂ = 10.67 m/s
5. J = 21 N·s
6. F_avg = 2280 N

Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.