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
1900 kg13 m/s1500 kg

A 1900 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 = 1900 kgv1 = 13 m/sm2 = 1500 kgv2 = 0 m/s
v′ = m/s
2.Easy
4.5 kg3 m/s2.5 kg

A 4.5 kg trolley moving at 3 m/s runs into a 2.5 kg trolley at rest. After the collision the first trolley continues in the same direction at 1 m/s. Find the velocity v′2 of the second trolley.

m1 = 4.5 kgv1 = 3 m/sm2 = 2.5 kgv′1 = 1 m/s
v′2 = m/s
3.Medium
3 kgv = ?5 gh = 23 cm

A 5 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 3 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 23 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 5 gM = 3 kgh = 23 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
4.Medium
5 kgv = ?10 gh = 25 cm

A 10 g bullet is fired horizontally into a 5 kg wooden block hanging on light strings, and stays inside it. The block swings up until it is 25 cm higher than at the start. Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the speed v of the bullet before impact.

m = 10 gM = 5 kgh = 25 cmg = 9.81 m/s²
v = m/s
5.Hard
25 m/s14 m/s

A 0.15 kg ball hits a wall at 25 m/s and bounces straight back at 14 m/s. The contact lasts 50 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.15 kgvin = 25 m/svout = 14 m/sΔt = 50 ms
Favg = N
6.Hard
21 m/s19 m/s

A 0.2 kg ball hits a wall at 21 m/s and bounces straight back at 19 m/s. The contact lasts 40 ms. Find the average force Favg of the wall on the ball.

m = 0.2 kgvin = 21 m/svout = 19 m/sΔt = 40 ms
Favg = N

Answer key

  1. 1. v′ = 7.265 m/s
  2. 2. v′2 = 3.6 m/s
  3. 3. v = 1277 m/s
  4. 4. v = 1110 m/s
  5. 5. Favg = 117 N
  6. 6. Favg = 200 N

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