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
2.5 kg9.5 m/s5 kg

A 2.5 kg trolley moving at 9.5 m/s runs into a 5 kg trolley at rest. After the collision the first trolley is at rest. Find the velocity v′2 of the second trolley.

m1 = 2.5 kgv1 = 9.5 m/sm2 = 5 kgv′1 = 0 m/s
v′2 = m/s
2.Easy
0.4 kgv = ?

A 0.4 kg ball at rest is kicked. The foot pushes it with an average force of 800 N for 4 ms. Find the speed v of the ball just after the kick.

m = 0.4 kgFavg = 800 NΔt = 4 ms
v = m/s
3.Medium
3 kg37 m/s3 kgv′2​ = ?

A 6 kg projectile moving horizontally at 13 m/s explodes into two fragments that move along the same line. The 3 kg fragment continues forwards at 37 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the 3 kg fragment (positive in the original direction).

M = 6 kgu = 13 m/sm1 = 3 kgv′1 = 37 m/sm2 = 3 kg
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
2.5 kg9 m/s4.5 kg

A 2.5 kg glider moving at 9 m/s makes a perfectly elastic head-on collision with a 4.5 kg glider at rest on a frictionless track. Find the velocity v′2 of the second glider after the collision.

m1 = 2.5 kgm2 = 4.5 kgv1 = 9 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
5.Hard
4.5 kgv = ?10 g20°L = 1.8 m

A 10 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 4.5 kg block hanging from light strings 1.8 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 = 10 gM = 4.5 kgL = 1.8 mθ = 20°g = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
6.Hard
5 kgv = ?10 g30°L = 1 m

A 10 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 5 kg block hanging from light strings 1 m long, and stays in it. The strings swing out to a largest angle of 30° from the vertical. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 10 gM = 5 kgL = 1 mθ = 30°g = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s

Answer key

  1. 1. v′2 = 4.75 m/s
  2. 2. v = 8 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = −11 m/s
  4. 4. v′2 = 6.429 m/s
  5. 5. v = 658.2 m/s
  6. 6. v = 812.3 m/s

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