1

1 Two similar spheres, each of mass m and travelling with speed v, are moving towards each other.
v v

m m

The spheres have a head-on elastic collision.

Which statement is correct?

A The spheres stick together on impact.

2
B The total kinetic energy after impact is mv .
C The total kinetic energy before impact is zero.
D The total momentum before impact is 2 mv.

2 Two spheres approach each other along the same straight line. Their speeds are u1 and u2
before collision. After the collision, the spheres separate with speeds v1 and v2 in the directions
shown below.

u1 u2 v1 v2

before collision after collision

Which equation must be correct if the collision is perfectly elastic?

A u1 – u2 = v2 + v1
B u1 – u2 = v2 – v1
C u1 + u2 = v2 + v1
D u1 + u2 = v2 – v1
 2

3 An object travelling with velocity v strikes a wall and rebounds as shown.

Which property of the object is not conserved?

A kinetic energy
B mass
C momentum
D speed

4 The diagram shows two spherical masses approaching each other head-on at an equal speed u.
One is of mass m and the other of mass 2m.

2m m
u u

Which diagram, showing the situation after the collision, is not consistent with the principle of
conservation of momentum?

A B

2m m 2m m
u 5 u 2
u u
3 3 6 3

C D

2m m 2m m
u 2 u
u
6 3 3
the spheres stick together
 3

5 A particle X has speed v and collides with a stationary identical particle Y. The collision is
perfectly elastic.

X Y
v

What are the speed and direction of motion of each of the two particles after the collision?

X Y

A stationary v to the right

v to the right v to the right
B 2 2
v to the left v to the right
C 2 2

D v to the left stationary

6 A ball of mass 0.5 kg is thrown against a wall at a speed of 12 m s . It bounces back with a speed
–1

of 8 m s–1. The collision lasts for 0.10 s.

12 m s–1

8 m s–1

What is the average force on the ball due to the collision?

A 0.2 N B 1N C 20 N D 100 N

7 A molecule of mass m travelling at speed v hits a wall in a direction perpendicular to the wall. The
collision is elastic.

What are the changes in the kinetic energy and in the momentum of the molecule caused by the
collision?

change in change in
momentum kinetic energy

A 0 0
B 0 mv 2
C 2mv 0
D mv 2 0
 4

8 Two identical, perfectly elastic spheres have the same mass m. They travel towards each other
with the same speed v along a horizontal frictionless surface.

mass m mass m
speed v speed v

Which statement about the sum of the kinetic energies of the spheres is correct?

A The sum of their kinetic energies before impact is zero.

1
B The sum of their kinetic energies before impact is 2
2
mv .

C The sum of their kinetic energies after impact is zero.

D The sum of their kinetic energies after impact is mv 2.

9 A lead pellet is shot vertically upwards into a clay block that is stationary at the moment of impact
but is able to rise freely after impact.

stationary clay
block
mass 95 g

impact velocity
200 m s–1

lead pellet
mass 5.0 g

The pellet hits the block with an initial velocity of 200 m s–1. It embeds itself in the block and does
not emerge.

How high above its initial position will the block rise?
(Mass of pellet = 5.0 g; mass of clay block = 95 g.)

A 5.1 m B 5.6 m C 10 m D 2000 m

 5

10 Trolley X, moving along a horizontal frictionless track, collides with a stationary trolley Y. The two
trolleys become attached and move off together.

Which statement about this interaction is correct?

A Some of the kinetic energy of trolley X is changed to momentum in the collision.

B Some of the momentum of trolley X is changed to kinetic energy in the collision.
C Trolley X loses some of its momentum as heat in the collision.
D Trolley X shares its momentum with trolley Y but some of its kinetic energy is lost.

11 Two balls X and Y are moving towards each other with speeds of 5 m s –1
and 15 m s –1

respectively.

5 m s–1 15 m s–1

X Y

They make a perfectly elastic head-on collision and ball Y moves to the right with a speed
of 7 m s–1.

What is the speed and direction of ball X after the collision?

A 3 m s–1 to the left

B 13 m s–1 to the left
C –1
3 m s to the right
D –1
13 m s to the right
 6

12 A wooden block is freely supported on brackets at a height of 4.0 m above the ground, as shown.

wooden block
of mass 95 g

impact bracket
velocity
4.0 m 200 m s–1

bullet
of mass 5.0 g

A bullet of mass 5.0 g is shot vertically upwards into the wooden block of mass 95 g. It embeds
itself in the block. The impact causes the block to rise above its supporting brackets.

The bullet hits the block with a velocity of 200 m s–1. How far above the ground will the block be at
the maximum height of its path?

A 5.1 m B 5.6 m C 9.1 m D 9.6 m

13 Two spheres approach each other along the same straight line. Their speeds are u1 and u2
before they collide. After the collision, the spheres separate with speeds v1 and v2 in the
directions shown below.

u1 u2 v1 v2

before collision after collision

The collision is perfectly elastic. Which equation must be correct?

A u1 – u2 = v2 + v1
B u1 – u2 = v2 – v1
C u1 + u2 = v2 + v1
D u1 + u2 = v2 – v1
 7

14 Two equal masses travel towards each other on a frictionless track at speeds of 60 cm s –1
and
30 cm s–1. They stick together on impact.

60 cm s–1 30 cm s–1

What is the speed of the masses after impact?

A 15 cm s–1 B 20 cm s–1 C 30 cm s–1 D 45 cm s–1

15 Two frictionless trolleys are moving towards each other along the same horizontal straight line.
Their masses and velocities are shown.

1.0 m s–1 4.0 m s–1

2.0 kg 3.0 kg

The trolleys collide and stick together.

What is the velocity of the trolleys after the collision?

A 2.0 m s–1 to the left

B 2.0 m s–1 to the right
C –1
2.8 m s to the left
D 2.8 m s–1 to the right

16 A bullet of mass 8.0 g travels at a speed of 300 m s–1. The bullet hits a target and stops after a
time of 100 µs.

What is the average force exerted by the target on the bullet?

A 24 N B 240 N C 2400 N D 24 000 N

 8

17 Two spheres travel along the same line with velocities u1 and u2. They collide and after collision
their velocities are v1 and v2.

before collision u1 before collision u2

after collision v1 after collision v2

Which collision is not elastic?

–1 –1 –1 –1
u1 / m s u2 / m s v1 / m s v2 / m s

A 2 –5 –5 –2
B 3 –3 0 6
C 3 –2 1 6
D 5 2 3 6

18 A golf ball of mass m is dropped onto a hard surface from a height h1 and rebounds to a height
h2.

The momentum of the golf ball just as it reaches the surface is different from its momentum just
as it leaves the surface.

What is the total change in the momentum of the golf ball between these two instants? (Ignore air
resistance.)

A m 2gh1 – m 2gh 2

B m 2gh1 + m 2gh 2

C m 2g(h1 − h 2)

D m 2g(h1 + h 2)

19 A snooker ball of mass 200 g hits the cushion of a snooker table at right-angles with a speed of
14.0 m s–1.

The ball rebounds with half of its initial speed. The ball is in contact with the cushion for 0.60 s.

velocity velocity
14.0 m s–1 cushion 7.0 m s–1
ball of
mass 200 g

before after

What is the average force exerted on the ball by the cushion?

A 2.3 N B 7.0 N C 2300 N D 7000 N

 9

20 A tennis ball of mass 55 g is travelling horizontally with a speed of 30 m s . The ball makes –1

contact with a wall before rebounding in the horizontal direction with a speed of 20 m s–1. The ball
is in contact with the wall for a time of 5.0 × 10–3 s.

What is the average force exerted on the wall by the ball?

A 110 N B 220 N C 330 N D 550 N

21 The diagram shows two identical spheres X and Y.

X Y

Initially, X moves with speed v directly towards Y. Y is stationary. The spheres collide elastically.

What happens?

X
1 1
A moves with speed 2 v to the right moves with speed 2 v to the right
B moves with speed v to the left remains stationary
1 1
C moves with speed 2 v to the left moves with speed 2 v to the right
D stops
tops m oves with speed v to the right
 10

22 Two bar magnets P and Q are mounted on floats which can slide without friction along an air
track.

P Q
S N N S air track

floats

The two magnets slide towards each other along the air track and interact, without making
contact.

The relative speed of approach of the magnets is equal to their relative speed of separation.

Which statement about P and Q must be correct?

A During the interaction between P and Q some of the total kinetic energy is lost.
B During the interaction between P and Q some of the total momentum is lost.
C The momentum of Q after the interaction is equal to the momentum of P before the
interaction.
D The values of (kinetic energy of P + kinetic energy of Q) before and after the interaction are
equal.

23 A snooker ball has a mass of 200 g. It hits the cushion of a snooker table and rebounds along its
original path.

The ball arrives at the cushion with a speed of 14.0 m s–1 and then leaves it with a speed of
–1
7.0 m s . The ball and the cushion are in contact for a time of 0.60 s.

What is the average force exerted on the ball by the cushion?

A 1.4 N B 2.3 N C 4.2 N D 7.0 N

 11

24 A ball of mass m travels vertically downwards and then hits a horizontal floor at speed u.

It rebounds vertically upwards with speed v.

The collision lasts a time ∆t.

What is the average resultant force exerted on the ball during the collision?

mv – mu
A downwards
∆t

mv – mu
B upwards
∆t

mv + mu
C downwards
∆t

mv + mu
D upwards
∆t

25 A mass m1 travelling with speed u1 collides with a mass m2 travelling with speed u2 in the same
direction. After the collision, mass m1 has speed v1 and mass m2 has speed v2 in the same
direction. The collision is perfectly elastic.

u1 u2 v1 v2
m1 m2 m1 m2

before the collision after the collision

Which equation is not correct?

A m1u12 – m1v12 = m2v22 – m2u22

B v 2 + u2 = v 1 + u 1
C m1(u1 – v1) = m2(v2 – u2)
D m1(u1 – v1)2 = m2(u2 – v2)2
 12

26 A device for spraying paint consists of a box with its axes horizontal and vertical. One of its
vertical faces contains small holes. Paint is fed into the box under pressure via a vertical tube and
exits through the holes as fine streams moving horizontally.

paint in

paint out through holes

(only a few holes are shown)

The paint is ejected at a speed of 2.5 m s–1 through 400 holes, each of area 0.4 mm2. The density
of the paint is 900 kg m–3.

What is the horizontal force required to hold the device stationary as it ejects the paint?

A 0.36 N B 0.90 N C 2.3 N D 900 N

27 The diagram shows the masses and velocities of two trolleys that are about to collide.

4.0 m s–1 1.0 m s–1

2.0 kg 4.0 kg

After the impact they move off together.

What is the kinetic energy lost in the collision?

A 4J B 6J C 12 J D 14 J
 13

28 Two balls, one of mass 2m and one of mass m, collide.

The diagrams show the initial and final velocities of the balls.

Which collision is not elastic?

before collision after collision

2m m 2m m
–1 –1 –1
A 4.0 m s 1.0 m s 2.0 m s 5.0 m s–1

2m m 2m m
B 6.0 m s–1 3.0 m s–1 4.0 m s–1 7.0 m s–1

2m m 2m m
C 8.0 m s–1 2.0 m s–1 5.0 m s–1 8.0 m s–1

2m m 2m m
–1 –1 –1
D 10.0 m s 4.0 m s 6.0 m s 12.0 m s–1

29 An object of mass m travelling with speed 5u collides with, and sticks to, an object of mass 5m
travelling in the same direction with speed u.

5u u

m 5m

What is the speed with which the two objects travel together in the original direction?

A 3 u B u C 6u D 10 u
10 5 6
 14

30 The diagram shows a ‘ballistic pendulum’.

block
pellet
M m

A pellet of mass m travelling at a speed u hits a stationary block of mass M. The pellet becomes
embedded in the block and causes the block to move at a speed v immediately after the impact.

When a pellet of mass 2m, travelling at a speed 2u, hits a block of mass 2M, what is the speed of
the block immediately after the impact? (Neglect the small increase in the mass of the block as
the pellet’s mass is added during the collision.)

A v B v 2 C 2v D 4v
 15

1 (a) State Newton’s first law of motion.

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

...............................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) An object A of mass 100 g is moving in a straight line with a velocity of 0.60 m s–1 to the right.
An object B of mass 200 g is moving in the same straight line as object A with a velocity of
0.80 m s–1 to the left, as shown in Fig. 4.1.

A B
0.60 m s–1 0.80 m s–1
100 g 200 g

Fig. 4.1

Objects A and B collide. Object A then moves with a velocity of 0.40 m s–1 to the left.

(i) Calculate the magnitude of the velocity of B after the collision.

magnitude of velocity = ..................................................m s–1 [2]

(ii) The collision between A and B is inelastic.

Explain how the collision is inelastic and still obeys the law of conservation of energy.

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

[Total: 4]
 16

2 (a) State what is meant by the mass of a body.

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

...............................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) Two blocks travel directly towards each other along a horizontal, frictionless surface. The
blocks collide, as illustrated in Fig. 3.1.

0.40 m s–1 0.25 m s–1 0.20 m s–1 v

block A block B
mass mass mass mass
3M M 3M M

before after
Fig. 3.1

Block A has mass 3M and block B has mass M.

Before the collision, block A moves to the right with speed 0.40 m s–1 and block B moves to
the left with speed 0.25 m s–1.
After the collision, block A moves to the right with speed 0.20 m s–1 and block B moves to the
right with speed v.

(i) Use Newton’s third law to explain why, during the collision, the change in momentum of
block A is equal and opposite to the change in momentum of block B.

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

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................[2]

(ii) Determine speed v.

v = ................................................. m s–1 [3]

 17

(iii) Calculate, for the blocks,

1. the relative speed of approach,

relative speed of approach = ...................................................... m s–1

2. the relative speed of separation.

relative speed of separation = ...................................................... m s–1

[2]

(iv) Use your answers in (b)(iii) to state and explain whether the collision is elastic or
inelastic.

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

.......................................................................................................................................[1]

[Total: 9]
 18

3 A ball is thrown vertically upwards towards a ceiling and then rebounds, as illustrated in Fig. 3.1.

ceiling

speed 3.8 m s–1 ball leaving

ceiling

ball thrown speed 9.6 m s–1

upwards

Fig. 3.1

The ball is thrown with speed 9.6 m s–1 and takes a time of 0.37 s to reach the ceiling. The ball is
then in contact with the ceiling for a further time of 0.085 s until leaving it with a speed of 3.8 m s–1.
The mass of the ball is 0.056 kg. Assume that air resistance is negligible.

(a) Show that the ball reaches the ceiling with a speed of 6.0 m s–1.

[1]

(b) Calculate the height of the ceiling above the point from which the ball was thrown.

height = ...................................................... m [2]

(c) Calculate

(i) the increase in gravitational potential energy of the ball for its movement from its initial
position to the ceiling,

increase in gravitational potential energy = ....................................................... J [2]

 19

(ii) the decrease in kinetic energy of the ball while it is in contact with the ceiling.

decrease in kinetic energy = ....................................................... J [2]

(d) State how Newton’s third law applies to the collision between the ball and the ceiling.

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

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

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

...............................................................................................................................................[2]

(e) Calculate the change in momentum of the ball during the collision.

change in momentum = .................................................... N s [2]

(f) Determine the magnitude of the average force exerted by the ceiling on the ball during the
collision.

average force = ...................................................... N [2]

[Total: 13]
 20

4 A wooden block moves along a horizontal frictionless surface, as shown in Fig. 2.1.

45 m s –1 2.0 m s –1 block
steel ball
mass 85 g
mass 4.0 g

horizontal
surface

Fig. 2.1

The block has mass 85 g and moves to the left with a velocity of 2.0 m s –1. A steel ball of mass
4.0 g is fired to the right. The steel ball, moving horizontally with a speed of 45 m s –1, collides
with the block and remains embedded in it. After the collision the block and steel ball both have
speed v.

(a) Calculate v.

v = ................................................ m s –1 [2]

(b) (i) For the block and ball, state

1. the relative speed of approach before collision,

relative speed of approach = ...................................................... m s–1

2. the relative speed of separation after collision.

relative speed of separation = ...................................................... m s–1

[1]

(ii) Use your answers in (i) to state and explain whether the collision is elastic or inelastic.

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

...................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Use Newton’s third law to explain the relationship between the rate of change of momentum
of the ball and the rate of change of momentum of the block during the collision.

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

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

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

.............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 6]
 21

5 (a) State the principle of conservation of momentum.

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

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

...............................................................................................................................................[2]

(b) The propulsion system of a toy car consists of a propeller attached to an electric motor, as
illustrated in Fig. 3.1.

propeller
moving air
0.045 m
speed 1.8 m s–1 electric motor of car

0.045 m body of car

ground

Fig. 3.1

The car is on horizontal ground and is initially held at rest by its brakes. When the motor is
switched on, it rotates the propeller so that air is propelled horizontally to the left. The density
of the air is 1.3 kg m–3.

Assume that the air moves with a speed of 1.8 m s–1 in a uniform cylinder of radius 0.045 m.
Also assume that the air to the right of the propeller is stationary.

(i) Show that, in a time interval of 2.0 s, the mass of air propelled to the left is 0.030 kg.

[2]
 22

(ii) Calculate

1. the increase in the momentum of the mass of air in (b)(i),

increase in momentum = ......................................................... N s

2. the force exerted on this mass of air by the propeller.

force = ........................................................... N
[3]

(iii) Explain how Newton’s third law applies to the movement of the air by the propeller.

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................[2]

(iv) The total mass of the car is 0.20 kg. The brakes of the car are released and the car
begins to move with an initial acceleration of 0.075 m s–2.

Determine the initial frictional force acting on the car.

frictional force = ...................................................... N [2]

[Total: 11]
 23

6 (a) State Newton’s second law of motion.

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

...............................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) A toy rocket consists of a container of water and compressed air, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

container

compressed
air

water
density 1000 kg m–3
nozzle
radius 7.5 mm

Fig. 3.1

Water is pushed vertically downwards through a nozzle by the compressed air. The rocket
moves vertically upwards.

The nozzle has a circular cross-section of radius 7.5 mm. The density of the water
is 1000 kg m–3. Assume that the water leaving the nozzle has the shape of a cylinder of radius
7.5 mm and has a constant speed of 13 m s–1 relative to the rocket.

(i) Show that the mass of water leaving the nozzle in the first 0.20 s after the rocket launch
is 0.46 kg.

[2]
 24

(ii) Calculate

1. the change in the momentum of the mass of water in (b)(i) due to leaving the nozzle,

change in momentum = .......................................................... N s

2. the force exerted on this mass of water by the rocket.

force = ............................................................ N
[3]

(iii) State and explain how Newton’s third law applies to the movement of the rocket by the
water.

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

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

.......................................................................................................................................[2]

(iv) The container has a mass of 0.40 kg. The initial mass of water before the rocket is
launched is 0.70 kg. The mass of the compressed air in the rocket is negligible. Assume
that the resistive force on the rocket due to its motion is negligible.

For the rocket at a time of 0.20 s after launching,

1. show that its total mass is 0.64 kg,

2. calculate its acceleration.

acceleration = ...................................................... m s–2

[3]

[Total: 11]
 25

7 A block X slides along a horizontal frictionless surface towards a stationary block Y, as illustrated
in Fig. 2.1.

momentum
0.40 kg m s–1

X Y
surface

Fig. 2.1

There are no resistive forces acting on block X as it moves towards block Y. At time t = 0, block X
has momentum 0.40 kg m s−1. A short time later, the blocks collide and then separate.

The variation with time t of the momentum of block Y is shown in Fig. 2.2.

0.60

0.50 block Y
momentum / kg m s–1
0.40

0.30

0.20

0.10

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 t / ms
– 0.10

– 0.20

– 0.30

– 0.40

– 0.50

– 0.60

Fig. 2.2
 26

(a) Define linear momentum.

...............................................................................................................................................[1]

(b) Use Fig. 2.2 to:

(i) determine the time interval over which the blocks are in contact with each other

time interval = .................................................... ms [1]

(ii) describe, without calculation, the magnitude of the acceleration of block Y from:

1. time t = 80 ms to t = 100 ms

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

2. time t = 100 ms to t = 120 ms.

....................................................................................................................................
[2]

(c) Use Fig. 2.2 to determine the magnitude of the force exerted by block X on block Y.

force = ...................................................... N [2]

(d) On Fig. 2.2, sketch the variation of the momentum of block X with time t from t = 0 to
t = 160 ms. [3]

[Total: 9]
 27

8 (a) State Newton’s third law of motion.

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

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

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) A block X of mass mX slides in a straight line along a horizontal frictionless surface, as shown
in Fig. 3.1.

speed 5v speed v
mass mX mass mY

X Y X Y

Fig. 3.1 Fig. 3.2

The block X, moving with speed 5v, collides head-on with a stationary block Y of mass mY.
The two blocks stick together and then move with common speed v, as shown in Fig. 3.2.
mY
(i) Use conservation of momentum to show that the ratio is equal to 4.
mx

[2]

(ii) Calculate the ratio

total kinetic energy of X and Y after collision

.
total kinetic energy of X and Y before collision

ratio = ......................................................... [3]

 28

(iii) State the value of the ratio in (ii) for a perfectly elastic collision.

ratio = ......................................................... [1]

(c) The variation with time t of the momentum of block X in (b) is shown in Fig. 3.3.

momentum

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
t / ms

Fig. 3.3

Block X makes contact with block Y at time t = 20 ms.

(i) Describe, qualitatively, the magnitude and direction of the resultant force, if any, acting
on block X in the time interval:

1. t = 0 to t = 20 ms

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

2. t = 20 ms to t = 40 ms.

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

...........................................................................................................................................
[3]

(ii) On Fig. 3.3, sketch the variation of the momentum of block Y with time t from
t = 0 to t = 60 ms. [3]

[Total: 14]
 29

9 (a) Define force

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

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) A ball falls vertically downwards towards a horizontal floor and then rebounds along its original
path, as illustrated in Fig. 3.1.

ball reaching ball leaving

speed the floor speed the floor
3.8 m s–1 1.7 m s–1

Fig. 3.1

The ball reaches the floor with speed 3.8 m s–1. The ball is then in contact with the floor for a
time of 0.081 s before leaving it with speed 1.7 m s–1. The mass of the ball is 0.062 kg.

(i) Calculate the loss of kinetic energy of the ball during the collision.

loss of kinetic energy = ...................................................... J [2]

(ii) Determine the magnitude of the change in momentum of the ball during the collision.

change in momentum = ................................................... N s [2]

(iii) Show that the magnitude of the average resultant force acting on the ball during the
collision is 4.2 N.

[1]
 30

(iv) Use the information in (iii) to calculate the magnitude of:

1. the average force of the floor on the ball during the collision

average force = .......................................................... N

2. the average force of the ball on the floor during the collision.

average force = .......................................................... N

[2]

[Total: 8]