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
1700 kg15 m/s700 kg

A 1700 kg car moving at 15 m/s runs into a stationary 700 kg car. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 1700 kgv1 = 15 m/sm2 = 700 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
2.Easy
1700 kg17 m/s1100 kg5 m/s

A 1700 kg car moving at 17 m/s collides head-on with a 1100 kg car moving at 5 m/s in the opposite direction. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 1700 kgv1 = 17 m/sm2 = 1100 kgv2 = −5 m/s
v′ = m/s
3.Medium
1800 kg7 m/s1000 kg

A 1800 kg car moving at 7 m/s runs into a stationary 1000 kg car and the two lock together. What percentage ΔK/K of the original kinetic energy is lost?

m1 = 1800 kgv1 = 7 m/sm2 = 1000 kgv2 = 0
ΔK/K = %
4.Medium
1900 kg6 m/s1600 kg

A 1900 kg car moving at 6 m/s runs into a stationary 1600 kg car and the two lock together. How much kinetic energy ΔK is lost in the collision?

m1 = 1900 kgv1 = 6 m/sm2 = 1600 kgv2 = 0
ΔK = J
5.Hard
26 m/s6 m/s

A 0.6 kg ball hits a wall at 26 m/s and bounces straight back at 6 m/s. The contact lasts 10 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.6 kgvin = 26 m/svout = 6 m/sΔt = 10 ms
J = N·s
6.Hard
1600 kgv1​ = ?900 kg

A 1600 kg car runs into a parked 900 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 22.5 m before stopping. The coefficient of kinetic friction between tyres and road is 0.7. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v1 of the first car just before the collision.

m1 = 1600 kgm2 = 900 kgd = 22.5 mμ = 0.7g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. v′ = 10.63 m/s
  2. 2. v′ = 8.357 m/s
  3. 3. ΔK/K = 35.71 %
  4. 4. ΔK = 15634 J
  5. 5. J = 19.2 N·s
  6. 6. v1 = 27.47 m/s

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