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
1100 kg13 m/s1500 kg

A 1100 kg car moving at 13 m/s runs into a stationary 1500 kg car. The cars lock together. Find their common velocity v′ just after the collision (positive in the first car’s direction).

m1 = 1100 kgv1 = 13 m/sm2 = 1500 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
2.Easy
0.15 kgv = ?

A 0.15 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 700 N for 2 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.15 kgFavg = 700 NΔt = 2 ms
v = m/s
3.Medium
2.5 kg8 m/s3 kg

A 2.5 kg glider moving at 8 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 3 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 2.5 kgm2 = 3 kgv1 = 8 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
1000 kg7 m/s1000 kg

A 1000 kg car moving at 7 m/s runs into a stationary 1000 kg car and the two lock together. How much kinetic energy ΔK is lost in the collision?

m1 = 1000 kgv1 = 7 m/sm2 = 1000 kgv2 = 0
ΔK = J
5.Hard
1 kgv = ?20 g10°L = 1.2 m

A 20 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 1 kg block hanging from light strings 1.2 m long, and stays in it. The strings swing out to a largest angle of 10° from the vertical. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 20 gM = 1 kgL = 1.2 mθ = 10°g = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
6.Hard
1500 kgv1​ = ?1000 kg

A 1500 kg car runs into a parked 1000 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 6 m before stopping. The coefficient of kinetic friction between tyres and road is 0.6. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v1 of the first car just before the collision.

m1 = 1500 kgm2 = 1000 kgd = 6 mμ = 0.6g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. v′ = 5.5 m/s
  2. 2. v = 9.333 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = 7.273 m/s
  4. 4. ΔK = 12250 J
  5. 5. v = 30.5 m/s
  6. 6. v1 = 14.01 m/s

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