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
0.25 kgv = ?

A 0.25 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 450 N for 15 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.25 kgFavg = 450 NΔt = 15 ms
v = m/s
2.Easy
4 kg650 m/sV = ?

A 4 kg rifle, free to move, fires a 12 g bullet at 650 m/s. Both start at rest. Find the recoil speed V of the rifle.

M = 4 kgm = 12 gv = 650 m/s
V = m/s
3.Medium
5 kg2 m/s2.5 kg

A 5 kg glider moving at 2 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 = 5 kgm2 = 2.5 kgv1 = 2 m/sv2 = 0
v′1 = m/s
4.Medium
14 kg63 m/s1 kgv′2​ = ?

A 15 kg projectile moving horizontally at 21 m/s explodes into two fragments that move along the same line. The 14 kg fragment continues forwards at 63 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the 1 kg fragment (positive in the original direction).

M = 15 kgu = 21 m/sm1 = 14 kgv′1 = 63 m/sm2 = 1 kg
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
28 m/s14 m/s

A 0.3 kg ball hits a wall at 28 m/s and bounces straight back at 14 m/s. The contact lasts 20 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.3 kgvin = 28 m/svout = 14 m/sΔt = 20 ms
Favg = N
6.Hard
1300 kgv1​ = ?900 kg

A 1300 kg car runs into a parked 900 kg car. The wrecks lock together and skid 16 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 = 1300 kgm2 = 900 kgd = 16 mμ = 0.75g = 9.81 m/s²
v1 = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. v = 27 m/s
  2. 2. V = 1.95 m/s
  3. 3. v′1 = 0.6667 m/s
  4. 4. v′2 = −567 m/s
  5. 5. Favg = 630 N
  6. 6. v1 = 25.97 m/s

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