TOPIC 1 MECHANICS

Topic 1C Momentum
1 Two birds are flying in a straight line directly towards one another. They each
have a mass of 2.0 kg and a speed of 5.0 ms−1. Which line of the table below
gives the total momentum and kinetic energy of the two birds?

Momentum/kg ms−1 Kinetic energy/J

A 50 10
B 10 50
C 0 50
D 0 10

Your answer
(1)
(Total for Question 1 = 1 mark)

2 A man of mass 80 kg steps forwards out of a stationary rowing boat. His initial
velocity is 1.0 and the boat begins to move backwards at 0.25 ms−1.
(a) State the law of conservation of momentum.
(2)

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(b) Calculate the mass of the boat.

(2)

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(c) State and explain any assumptions you made in order to answer part (b).
(2)

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(Total for Question 2 = 6 marks)

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 3 Below is a simplified diagram of a jet engine.

(a) Explain, by referring to momentum, how the jet engine can generate a
forward thrust for the aircraft.
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(b) When the aircraft is in steady flight, its momentum is constant. Explain how
the law of conservation of momentum applies even though the jet engine
continues to accelerate the air/exhaust gases.
(2)

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(Total for Question 3 = 5 marks)

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 4 The diagram below shows a girl jumping off a low wall. As she lands, she bends
her knees. Explain how this helps to protect her from injury.

(3)

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(Total for Question 4 = 3 marks)

5 A man throws a sack of potatoes of mass 20 kg onto a stationary trolley of mass
40 kg. The trolley rolls forwards with an initial velocity of 0.40 ms−1. Calculate the
velocity of the sack of potatoes just before it landed on the trolley.
(3)

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(Total for Question 5 = 3 marks)

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6 A rocket motor provides an impulse of 2.5 Ns to a rocket of mass 100 g.
What is the maximum velocity of the rocket?
(2)

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(Total for Question 6 = 2 marks)

TOTAL FOR ASSESSMENT = 20 MARKS