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 worksheetPractise 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
1600 kg20 m/s1900 kg

A 1600 kg car moving at 20 m/s runs into a stationary 1900 kg car. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 1600 kgv1 = 20 m/sm2 = 1900 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
2.Easy
1.5 kg8.5 m/s4 kg

A 1.5 kg trolley moving at 8.5 m/s runs into a 4 kg trolley at rest. After the collision the first trolley is at rest. Find the velocity v′2 of the second trolley.

m1 = 1.5 kgv1 = 8.5 m/sm2 = 4 kgv′1 = 0 m/s
v′2 = m/s
3.Medium
2 kg8 m/s1 kg

A 2 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′1 of the first glider after the collision (positive in its original direction).

m1 = 2 kgm2 = 1 kgv1 = 8 m/sv2 = 0
v′1 = m/s
4.Medium
1100 kg13 m/s700 kg

A 1100 kg car moving at 13 m/s runs into a stationary 700 kg car and the two lock together. How much kinetic energy ΔK is lost in the collision?

m1 = 1100 kgv1 = 13 m/sm2 = 700 kgv2 = 0
ΔK = J
5.Hard
11 m/s16 m/s

A 0.35 kg ball hits a wall at 11 m/s and bounces straight back at 16 m/s. The contact lasts 25 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.35 kgvin = 11 m/svout = 16 m/sΔt = 25 ms
Favg = N
6.Hard
12 m/s20 m/s

A 0.45 kg ball hits a wall at 12 m/s and bounces straight back at 20 m/s. The contact lasts 25 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.45 kgvin = 12 m/svout = 20 m/sΔt = 25 ms
Favg = N

Answer key

  1. 1. v′ = 9.143 m/s
  2. 2. v′2 = 3.188 m/s
  3. 3. v′1 = 2.667 m/s
  4. 4. ΔK = 36147 J
  5. 5. Favg = 378 N
  6. 6. Favg = 576 N

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