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.

For teachers: free to print, copy and use in class. Every new worksheet has new values and its own answer key. A link to ExamProblems on your course page is appreciated.

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy
1700 kg22 m/s2000 kg6 m/s

A 1700 kg car moving at 22 m/s collides head-on with a 2000 kg car moving at 6 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 = 1700 kgv1 = 22 m/sm2 = 2000 kgv2 = −6 m/s
v′ = m/s
2.Easy
1200 kg15 m/s1900 kg13 m/s

A 1200 kg car moving at 15 m/s collides head-on with a 1900 kg car moving at 13 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 = 1200 kgv1 = 15 m/sm2 = 1900 kgv2 = −13 m/s
v′ = m/s
3.Medium
3 kg11 m/s3.5 kg

A 3 kg glider moving at 11 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 = 3 kgm2 = 3.5 kgv1 = 11 m/sv2 = 0
v′2 = m/s
4.Medium
0.5 kg11 m/s3.5 kg

A 0.5 kg glider moving at 11 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′1 of the first glider after the collision (positive in its original direction).

m1 = 0.5 kgm2 = 3.5 kgv1 = 11 m/sv2 = 0
v′1 = m/s
5.Hard
9 m/s19 m/s

A 0.15 kg ball hits a wall at 9 m/s and bounces straight back at 19 m/s. The contact lasts 10 ms. Find the magnitude of the impulse J the wall gives the ball.

m = 0.15 kgvin = 9 m/svout = 19 m/sΔt = 10 ms
J = N·s
6.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

Answer key

  1. 1. v′ = 6.865 m/s
  2. 2. v′ = −2.161 m/s
  3. 3. v′2 = 10.15 m/s
  4. 4. v′1 = −8.25 m/s
  5. 5. J = 4.2 N·s
  6. 6. v = 30.5 m/s

Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.