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
0.2 kgv = ?

A 0.2 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 700 N for 20 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.2 kgFavg = 700 NΔt = 20 ms
v = m/s
2.Easy
4 kg800 m/sV = ?

A 4 kg rifle, free to move, fires a 15 g bullet at 800 m/s. Both start at rest. Find the recoil speed V of the rifle.

M = 4 kgm = 15 gv = 800 m/s
V = m/s
3.Medium
4.5 kg2 m/s3.5 kg

A 4.5 kg glider moving at 2 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 3.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 4.5 kgm2 = 3.5 kgv1 = 2 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
4 kg9 m/s2 kg

A 4 kg glider moving at 9 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 = 4 kgm2 = 2 kgv1 = 9 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
1.5 kgv = ?5 g20°L = 0.7 m

A 5 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 1.5 kg block hanging from light strings 0.7 m long, and stays in it. The strings swing out to a largest angle of 20° from the vertical. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 5 gM = 1.5 kgL = 0.7 mθ = 20°g = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
6.Hard
5 kgv = ?20 g15°L = 0.5 m

A 20 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 5 kg block hanging from light strings 0.5 m long, and stays in it. The strings swing out to a largest angle of 15° from the vertical. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 20 gM = 5 kgL = 0.5 mθ = 15°g = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. v = 70 m/s
  2. 2. V = 3 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = 2.25 m/s
  4. 4. v′2 = 12 m/s
  5. 5. v = 273.9 m/s
  6. 6. v = 145.1 m/s

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