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

A 0.4 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 200 N for 10 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.4 kgF_avg = 200 NΔt = 10 ms

v = m/s

2.Easy

A 4 kg rifle, free to move, fires a 10 g bullet at 600 m/s. Both start at rest. Find the recoil speed V of the rifle.

M = 4 kgm = 10 gv = 600 m/s

V = m/s

3.Medium

A 1800 kg car moving at 18 m/s runs into a stationary 1800 kg car and the two lock together. How much kinetic energy ΔK is lost in the collision?

m₁ = 1800 kgv₁ = 18 m/sm₂ = 1800 kgv₂ = 0

ΔK = J

4.Medium

A 15 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 12 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 15 gM = 2 kgh = 12 cmg = 9.81 m/s²

v = m/s

5.Hard

A 0.4 kg ball hits a wall at 27 m/s and bounces straight back at 11 m/s. The contact lasts 25 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.4 kgv_in = 27 m/sv_out = 11 m/sΔt = 25 ms

J = N·s

6.Hard

At a crossing a 2000 kg car travelling east at 17 m/s collides with a 1800 kg car travelling north at 9 m/s. The cars lock together. Find the speed v′ of the wreck just after the collision.

m₁ = 2000 kgv₁ = 17 m/s (E)m₂ = 1800 kgv₂ = 9 m/s (N)

v′ = m/s

Answer key

1. v = 5 m/s
2. V = 1.5 m/s
3. ΔK = 145800 J
4. v = 206.1 m/s
5. J = 15.2 N·s
6. v′ = 9.911 m/s

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