9 Force and momentum

AQA Physics Answers to practice questions

Question Answer Marks Guidance
1 (a) In an inelastic collision, kinetic energy is not 1 Momentum is conserved in all
conserved collisions, but kinetic energy is
conserved only when a collision
is perfectly elastic. Don’t fall into
the trap of saying that energy is
not conserved: it must be kinetic
energy that you mention.
1 (b) (i) Momentum p = mv gives 1 Simple substitution of the given
−1
p = 0.12 × 18 = 2.16 N s (or kg m s ) values provides the answers to
these parts easily, but do
remember that momentum is a
vector and that its direction
matters. Hitting the ball reverses
its direction of travel.
1 (b) (ii) p = 0.12 × (−15) 1
−1
= −1.8 N s (or kg m s )
1 (b) (iii) Change in momentum = 2.16 − (−1.8) 1
−1
= 3.96 N s (or kg m s )
1 (b) (iv) Δp 3.96 1 “Force = rate of change of
Average force F = Δt = 0.14 momentum” is the fundamental
= 28 N 1 consequence of Newton’s second
law of motion.
1 (b) (v) Kinetic energy lost 1 This confirms that the collision
1 2 2 with the bat was inelastic. If the
Ek = 2 × 0.12 × (18 −15 ) = 5.9 J collision had been elastic, the
speed of the ball would have
−1
been 18 m s after impact.
2 (a) Impulse = F ∆t = area under graph 1 The area to be found is that of a
simple triangle of height 1.8 N
1 1 and base 0.15 s. The answer
= 2 × 1.8 × 0.15 = 0.135 N s could be expressed in kg m s
−1

instead of N s. This same impulse

is given to each of the carts.
2 (b) Impulse = change of momentum 1 The question states that cart A is
−1
∴0.135 = mA × 0.60 moving at 0.60 m s when the
from which mA = 0.225 kg or 0.22 kg or 0.23 kg 1 spring drops away. The impulse
is equal to the momentum gained
by each cart.
2 (c) The final total momentum of the system is zero. 1 From the impulse, each cart
receives momentum of the same
magnitude. But momentum is a
vector and the carts move in
opposite directions. Therefore the
total momentum of the system is
0.135 + (−0.135) = 0.
4
3 (a) p = mv = 6.2 × 10 × 0.35 1 An easy two marks for showing
that you know what momentum
4 −1
= 2.17 × 10 N s (or kg m s ) 1 is, but a correct unit is essential
4
or 2.2 × 10 N s for full credit.
3 (b) Initial momentum of engine = combined 1 Momentum is conserved when
momentum after coupling the engine couples to the
carriage, because the only forces
4 4
∴2.17 × 10 = 10.2 × 10 v 1 acting on the system are internal
forces. The mass of the
−1 −1
gives v = 0.213 m s or 0.21 m s 1 combined system is (6.2 + 4.0) ×
4 4
10 = 10.2 × 10 kg.

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 9 Force and momentum
AQA Physics Answers to practice questions
Question Answer Marks Guidance
4 (a) Two quantities that are conserved: 2 One mark for each. Momentum is
• momentum conserved in all collisions. An
• kinetic energy elastic collision (sometimes called
a perfectly elastic collision) is
special, because there is no loss
of kinetic energy.
−1
4 (b) (i) Magnitude of velocity is 450 m s 1 Since the collision is elastic, there
is no loss of kinetic energy. The
The direction is away from the wall at 90 ° to it 1 speed of the molecule must
(or in the opposite direction to the initial therefore be unchanged, but it
velocity). has rebounded in the opposite
direction.
4 (b) (ii) Initial momentum 1 The momentum of the molecule
−26 −1
= 8.0 × 10 × 450 N s (or kg m s ) is reversed in the collision, so its
final momentum change in momentum is twice as
−26 −1
= −8.0 × 10 × 450 N s (or kg m s ) large as it would be if the
change in momentum 1 molecule were simply brought to
−23 −1
= 7.2 × 10 N s (or kg m s ) rest.
4 (c) Relevant points: 4 The change of momentum of the
• Force is exerted on the molecule by the wall molecules is caused by the wall
• Molecule experiences a change in its when it exerts a force on them.
momentum The question asks for an
• Molecule must exert a force on the wall which explanation of why there is a
is equal and opposite to the force produced by force on the wall, and requires a
the wall on the molecule, by Newton’s third law reference to the appropriate
of motion Newtonian law.
5 (a) 210
→ 42 α + 206 2 One mark for both nucleon
84 Po 82 Pb
numbers correct (4, 206) and one
mark for both proton numbers
correct (2, 82).
−27
5 (b) (i) Mass of α = 4.0 × 1.66 × 10 1 Remember that the mass must
−27
= 6.64 × 10 kg 1
be in kg when substituting in 2
2 −27
1 −27 7 2 1 m v . 1u = 1.66 × 10 kg is
EK of α = 2 × 6.64 × 10 × (1.6 × 10 )
given in the Data Booklet. Also, 1
−13 −19
= 8.50 × 10 J eV = 1.60 × 10 J, so 1 MeV =
−13 −13
8.50 × 10 1 1.6 × 10 J.
= 1.60 × 10−13 = 5.3 MeV
5 (b) (ii) Momentum is conserved in the explosion as the 1 The only forces acting during an
α is emitted, hence mPb vPb = mα vα explosion are internal to the
system, so momentum is
7
206 vPb = 4 × 1.6 × 10 1 conserved.
5 −1
gives vPb = 3.1 × 10 m s 1 mPb = 206 u and mα = 4 u. There
is no need to convert these
masses into kg, because the
same conversion would apply to
both sides of the equation.
6 (a) The shaded area represents impulse (or change 1 “Momentum” (without “change
in momentum). in”) would not be an acceptable
answer.

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 9 Force and momentum
AQA Physics Answers to practice questions
Question Answer Marks Guidance
6 (b) Initial momentum of ball = half of the shaded 1 You have to recognise that the
area ball will stop (and lose all its initial
momentum) at the point where
1 1 −3 the force is a maximum. The area
= 2 × (2 × 1.6 × 10 × 1.7) 1 required is one half that which is
−4 −1
= 6.8 × 10 N s (or kg m s ) shaded, rather than all of it. The
1 area could be found by counting
squares, but that would be
tedious. The shape is clearly a
triangle, and calculation leads to
a quick result.
6 (c) Graph to show: The force acting on the ball
• Axes labelled and any line showing a 1 increases as it is brought to rest,
reduction in negative momentum and an so the (negative) acceleration
increase in positive momentum increases. The momentum-time
• Correct shape of curve 1 graph will be proportional to a
velocity-time graph, where an
increasing acceleration is shown
by an increasing gradient. The
process is reversed as the ball
starts to move upwards, that is,
the upwards acceleration
decreases with time. Credit would
be given for a graph which
started with positive momentum
and ended with negative
momentum.
7 (a) The total momentum of a system of objects 1 Momentum is therefore
remains constant conserved in collisions and in
provided that no external resultant force acts on 1 explosions, irrespective of
the system whether there is any change in
the kinetic energy of the system.
Note that it is important to include
the condition…no external
force….when stating this
principle.
7 (b) (i) In 1 second, volume of water entering or leaving 1 It is useful to consider a time of 1
nozzle second in this kind of calculation.
You can then imagine the
mass 0.31 −4 3 cylinder of water that emerges
= density = 1000 = 3.1 × 10 m from the nozzle in 1s; its length
−4
volume 3.1 × 10 1 will be numerically equal to the
speed of water = c.s. area = 7.3 × 10−5 speed of the water.
-1
= 4.25 m s
7 (b) (ii) Change in velocity of water 1 This calculation is based on
−1
= 4.25 − 0.68 = 3.57 m s “force = rate of change of
change in momentum in 1 s 1 momentum”, which is the change
= 0.31 × 3.57 = 1.11 N s in momentum in 1 s. Strictly, the
Δ(mv) 1.11 answer is the force acting on the
F = Δt gives F = 1.0 = 1.11 N 1 water owing to its change in
or 1.1 N momentum, but an equal and
opposite force must act on the
hose.

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 9 Force and momentum
AQA Physics Answers to practice questions
Question Answer Marks Guidance
7 (b) (iii) The water jet produces a force on the wall, 1 The water jet acts like an
whilst a force of equal magnitude acts on the imaginary rod, connecting the
hose nozzle of the hose to the wall.
The force on the hose is transmitted to the 1 Such a rod would produce equal
Earth through its support, and this force is in the and opposite pushes at its two
opposite direction to the force on the wall ends, so there would be no
overall effect on the rotation of
the Earth.

© Oxford University Press 2015 This resource sheet may have been changed from the original.
www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements