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
1.5 kg8 m/s1 kg

A 1.5 kg trolley moving at 8 m/s runs into a 1 kg trolley at rest. After the collision the first trolley continues in the same direction at 2.5 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the second trolley.

m1 = 1.5 kgv1 = 8 m/sm2 = 1 kgv′1 = 2.5 m/s
v′2 = m/s
2.Easy
0.4 kgv = ?

A 0.4 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 700 N for 8 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.4 kgFavg = 700 NΔt = 8 ms
v = m/s
3.Medium
3 kg11 m/s2.5 kg

A 3 kg glider moving at 11 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 2.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′1 of the first glider after the collision (positive in its original direction).

m1 = 3 kgm2 = 2.5 kgv1 = 11 m/sv2 = 0
v′1 = m/s
4.Medium
3.5 kg8 m/s1 kg

A 3.5 kg glider moving at 8 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 1 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 3.5 kgm2 = 1 kgv1 = 8 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
25 m/s10 m/s

A 0.35 kg ball hits a wall at 25 m/s and bounces straight back at 10 m/s. The contact lasts 20 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.35 kgvin = 25 m/svout = 10 m/sΔt = 20 ms
Favg = N
6.Hard
3.5 kgv = ?10 g25°L = 1.5 m

A 10 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 3.5 kg block hanging from light strings 1.5 m long, and stays in it. The strings swing out to a largest angle of 25° from the vertical. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 10 gM = 3.5 kgL = 1.5 mθ = 25°g = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. v′2 = 8.25 m/s
  2. 2. v = 14 m/s
  3. 3. v′1 = 1 m/s
  4. 4. v′2 = 12.44 m/s
  5. 5. Favg = 612.5 N
  6. 6. v = 582.8 m/s

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