Momentum and Collisions Name:

Collision Analysis
Read from Lesson 2 of the Momentum and Collisions chapter at The Physics Classroom:
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/momentum/u4l2d.html
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/momentum/u4l2e.html
MOP Connection: Momentum and Collisions: sublevels 7, 8 and 9

1. A 10-kg medicine ball is thrown at a velocity of

15 km/hr to a 50-kg skater who is at rest on ice.
The skater catches the ball and subsequently
slides with the ball across the ice.
Consider the skater and the ball as two separate
parts of an isolated system. (no external forces).
Fill in the before- and after-collision table below.

Momentum Before Momentum After Momentum

Collision Collision Change
Ball

Skater

Total

Determine the velocity of medicine ball and the skater after the collision. PSYW

2. A large fish with a mass of 1-kg is in motion at

45 cm/s when it encounters a smaller fish
(m=0.25 kg) that is at rest. The large fish
swallows the smaller fish and continues in
motion at a reduced speed. Fill in the before-
and after-collision table below.

Momentum Before Momentum After Momentum

Collision Collision Change
Large Fish

Small Fish

Total

Determine the velocity of the large and the small fish after the collision. PSYW

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Momentum and Collisions

3. A 0.150-kg baseball moving at a speed of 45.0 m/s crosses the

plate and strikes the 0.250-kg catcher's mitt (originally at rest).
The catcher's mitt immediately recoils backwards (at the same
speed as the ball) before the catcher applies an external force to
stop its momentum. If the catcher's hand is in a relaxed state at
the time of the collision, it can be assumed that no net external
force exists and the law of momentum conservation applies to the
baseball-catcher's mitt collision. Fill in the before- and after-
collision table below.

Momentum Before Momentum After Momentum

Collision Collision Change
Baseball

Catcher's Mitt

Total

Determine the velocity of the baseball/catcher's mitt immediately after the collision. PSYW

4. A 4800-kg truck traveling with a

velocity of +4.0 m/s collides head-on
with a 1200-kg car traveling with a
velocity of -12 m/s. The truck and car
entangle and move together after the
collision. Fill in the before- and after-
collision table below.

Momentum Before Momentum After Momentum

Collision Collision Change
Truck

Car

Total

Determine the velocity of the truck and car immediately after the collision. PSYW

© The Physics Classroom, 2020 Page 12

Momentum and Collisions Name:

Momentum Problem-Solving
Read from Lesson 2 of the Momentum and Collisions chapter at The Physics Classroom:
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/momentum/u4l2d.html
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/momentum/u4l2e.html
MOP Connection: Momentum and Collisions: sublevels 8 and 9
1. Determine the post-collision velocities of the following objects or combination of objects.
a. b.

c. d.

e. f.

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Momentum and Collisions

2. A 2.1-kg brick is placed gently upon a 2.9-kg cart originally moving with a speed of 26 cm/s.
Determine the post-collision speed of the combination of brick and cart.

3. A 98-kg fullback is running along at 8.6 m/s when a 76-kg defensive back running in the same
direction at 9.8 m/s jumps on his back. What is the post-collision speed of the two players
immediately after the tackle?

4. A 0.112-kg billiard ball moving at 154 cm/s strikes a second billiard ball of the same mass moving in
the opposite direction at 46 cm/s. The second billiard ball rebounds and travels at 72 cm/s after the
head-on collision. Determine the post-collision velocity of the first billiard ball.

5. A 225-kg bumper car (and its occupant) is moving north at 98 cm/s when it hits a 198-kg car
(occupant mass included) moving north at 28 cm/s. The 198-kg car is moving north at 71 cm/s after
the head-on collision. Determine the post-collision velocity of the 225-kg car.

6. A 4.88-kg bowling ball moving east at 2.41 m/s strikes a stationary 0.95-kg bowling pin.
Immediately after the head-on collision, the pin is moving east at 5.19 m/s. Determine the post-
collision velocity of the bowling ball.

© The Physics Classroom, 2020 Page 14

Momentum and Collisions Name:

Momentum Conservation as a Guide to Thinking

Read from Lesson 2 of the Momentum and Collisions chapter at The Physics Classroom:
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/momentum/u4l2dd.html
MOP Connection: Momentum and Collisions: sublevel 10

1. The following diagrams depict inelastic collisions between objects of different mass. For each case,
determine the post-collision velocity (v') of the two coupled objects. Express v' in terms of v.

a. b.

d.
c.

e. f.

g. h.

i. j.

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Momentum and Collisions

2. Complete the following verbal statements to illustrate your understanding of the effect of varying
mass on the post-collision velocity.
a. If an object of mass m collides and velocity v collides inelastically with an object of mass 3m that
is initially at rest, then the amount of total system mass in motion will increase by a factor of
_______ and the velocity of the system will decrease by a factor of _______ . The new velocity
(v') will be _______ v.

b. If an object of mass m collides and velocity v collides inelastically with an object of mass 4m that
is initially at rest, then the amount of total system mass in motion will increase by a factor of
_______ and the velocity of the system will decrease by a factor of _______ . The new velocity
(v') will be _______ v.

c. If an object of mass 3m collides and velocity v collides inelastically with an object of mass 4m
that is initially at rest, then the amount of total system mass in motion will increase by a factor of
_______ and the velocity of the system will decrease by a factor of _______ . The new velocity
(v') will be _______ v.

d. If an object of mass 5m collides and velocity v collides inelastically with an object of mass 3m
that is initially at rest, then the amount of total system mass in motion will increase by a factor of
_______ and the velocity of the system will decrease by a factor of _______ . The new velocity
(v') will be _______ v.

3. Use proportional reasoning to determine the unknown quantity in the following collisions.

a. b.

d.
c.

© The Physics Classroom, 2020 Page 16