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
2 kg6 m/s2.5 kg

A 2 kg trolley moving at 6 m/s runs into a 2.5 kg trolley at rest. After the collision the first trolley continues in the same direction at 2 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the second trolley.

m1 = 2 kgv1 = 6 m/sm2 = 2.5 kgv′1 = 2 m/s
v′2 = m/s
2.Easy
1000 kg7 m/s1900 kg2 m/s

A 1000 kg car moving at 7 m/s collides head-on with a 1900 kg car moving at 2 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 = 1000 kgv1 = 7 m/sm2 = 1900 kgv2 = −2 m/s
v′ = m/s
3.Medium
1300 kg23 m/s500 kg

A 1300 kg car moving at 23 m/s runs into a stationary 500 kg car and the two lock together. How much kinetic energy ΔK is lost in the collision?

m1 = 1300 kgv1 = 23 m/sm2 = 500 kgv2 = 0
ΔK = J
4.Medium
5 kg12 m/s2 kg

A 5 kg glider moving at 12 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 2 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 5 kgm2 = 2 kgv1 = 12 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
29 m/s5 m/s

A 0.35 kg ball hits a wall at 29 m/s and bounces straight back at 5 m/s. The contact lasts 20 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.35 kgvin = 29 m/svout = 5 m/sΔt = 20 ms
J = N·s
6.Hard
1900 kgv1​ = ?1900 kg

A 1900 kg car runs into a parked 1900 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 9 m before stopping. The coefficient of kinetic friction between tyres and road is 0.75. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v1 of the first car just before the collision.

m1 = 1900 kgm2 = 1900 kgd = 9 mμ = 0.75g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. v′2 = 3.2 m/s
  2. 2. v′ = 1.103 m/s
  3. 3. ΔK = 95514 J
  4. 4. v′2 = 17.14 m/s
  5. 5. J = 11.9 N·s
  6. 6. v1 = 23.02 m/s

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