Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Section
MOMENTUM
20 practice questions
Practice questions
1–3 of 3 · Hard
Question 1
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Two identical trolleys, A and B, each of mass 1.2 kg, move along a smooth, straight track. Trolley A is moving at 1.6 m/s towards stationary trolley B. The trolleys collide and stick together.
(a)[2 marks]Calculate the total momentum of the two trolleys before the collision.
(b)[2 marks]Calculate the velocity of the combined trolleys immediately after the collision.
(c)[1 mark]Explain why the principle of conservation of momentum can be applied in this situation.
Question 2
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A 1500 kg car is moving at 12 m/s along a straight road. The driver presses the brakes and brings the car to a complete stop in 2.8 s.
(a)[2 marks]Calculate the change in momentum of the car.
(b)[2 marks]Calculate the average braking force exerted on the car.
(c)[1 mark]Explain in physics terms why increasing the stopping time would affect the force experienced by the car.
Question 3
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A fireworks shell of mass 0.75 kg is initially at rest. It explodes in mid-air into two fragments: fragment X (0.45 kg) flies west at 16 m/s and fragment Y (unknown mass) flies east.
(a)[1 mark]Calculate the mass of fragment Y produced in the explosion.
(b)[3 marks]Calculate the velocity of fragment Y after the explosion.
(c)[1 mark]Explain why fragment Y moves in the opposite direction to fragment X.