Exam Practice: Momentum

Q1. Which one of the following has the same unit as the rate of change of momentum?

A work

B energy

C acceleration

D weight
(Total 1 mark)

Q2. A firework rocket is fired vertically into the air and explodes at its highest point. What are the
changes to the total kinetic energy of the rocket and the total momentum of the rocket as a
result of the explosion?

total kinetic energy

total momentum of
of
rocket
rocket

A unchanged unchanged

B unchanged increased

C increased unchanged

D increased increased

(Total 1 mark)

Q3. Trolley T1, of mass 2.0 kg, collides on a horizontal surface with trolley T2, which is also of
mass 2.0 kg. The collision is elastic. Before the collision T1 was moving at 4.0 m s–1 and T2
was at rest.

Which one of the following statements is correct?

Immediately after the collision

A T1 is at rest and T2 moves at 4.0 m s–1.

B T1 will rebound from T2 at 4.0 m s–1.
C T1 and T2 will both move at 2.8 m s–1.
D T1 and T2 will both move at 1.4 m s–1.
(Total 1 mark)

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Q4. An object is accelerated from rest by a constant force F for a time t. Which graphs represent
the variation of time with the change in the kinetic energy and the change in momentum of
the object?

Kinetic energy Momentum

(Total 1 mark)

Q5. Water of density 1000 kg m–3 flows out of a garden hose of cross-sectional area 7.2 × 10–4 m2
at a rate of 2.0 × 10–4 m3 per second. How much momentum is carried by the water leaving
the hose per second?

A 5.6 ×10–5 N s

B 5.6 × 10–2 N s

C 0.20 N s

D 0.72 N s
(Total 1 mark)

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Q6. (a) Collisions can be described as elastic or inelastic. State what is meant by an inelastic
collision.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) A ball of mass 0.12 kg strikes a stationary cricket bat with a speed of 18 m s–1. The ball
is in contact with the bat for 0.14 s and returns along its original path with a speed of 15
m s–1.

Calculate

(i) the momentum of the ball before the collision,

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

(ii) the momentum of the ball after the collision,

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

(iii) the total change of momentum of the ball,

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

(iv) the average force acting on the ball during contact with the bat,

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

(v) the kinetic energy lost by the ball as a result of the collision,

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(6)
(Total 7 marks)

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Q7. The simplified diagram shows an experimental arrangement to investigate the collision of two
trolleys.

In the experiment, trolley A is travelling at speed v. It collides with and sticks to, the initially
stationary trolley B.

(a) State the measurements you would need to take so that you could determine the
speed of

(i) trolley A before the collision,

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................

(ii) trolleys A and B after the collision.

...............................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................
(3)

(b) Explain how you would verify that momentum was conserved in this collision,
indicating what other measurements would be required.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) State and explain what you would do to minimise the effects of friction on the motion of
the trolleys.

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

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Q8. Deep space probes often carry modules which may be ejected from them by an explosion. A
space probe of total mass 500 kg is travelling in a straight line through free space at
160 m s–1 when it ejects a capsule of mass 150 kg explosively, releasing energy. Immediately
after the explosion the probe, now of mass 350 kg, continues to travel in the original straight
line but travels at 240 m s–1, as shown in the figure below.

(a) Discuss how the principles of conservation of momentum and conservation of energy
apply in this instance.

The quality of your written communication will be assessed in this question.

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

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......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

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(6)

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(b) (i) Calculate the magnitude of the velocity of the capsule immediately after the
explosion and state its direction of movement.

magnitude of velocity = ....................................... m s–1

direction of movement ............................................................

(3)

(ii) Determine the total amount of energy given to the probe and capsule by the
explosion.

answer = ....................................... J
(4)
(Total 13 marks)

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