Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Section
MOMENTUM
20 practice questions
Practice questions
11–20 of 20
Question 11
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Explain how crumple zones in cars help to reduce injuries to passengers during a collision, using ideas about momentum.
Question 12
1 mark · Normal
Answer and check →Which of these best explains why airbags increase safety in cars during a crash?
- A.They increase the force needed to stop the passenger.
- B.They decrease the change in momentum during a crash.
- C.They increase the time taken to stop the passenger.
- D.They make the passenger bounce away from the dashboard.
Question 13
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A cyclist and their bicycle have a combined mass of 90 kg. If their velocity changes from 6 m/s to 0 m/s in 2 seconds, calculate the average resultant force acting on them while stopping.
Question 14
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A trolley of mass 2 kg is moving at 3 m/s towards a stationary trolley of mass 1 kg. They collide and stick together.
(a)[2 marks]Calculate the total momentum before the collision.
(b)[2 marks]Calculate the velocity of the joined trolleys after the collision.
Question 15
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Describe and explain what happens to the momentum of two ice skaters who push off from one another on frictionless ice. Use the principle of conservation of momentum.
Question 16
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →The following table shows the mass and velocity of three objects moving in a straight line:
Object Mass (kg) Velocity (m/s) A 2.0 4.0 B 1.5 6.0 C 5.0 1.0 (a)[3 marks]Calculate the momentum of each object and complete the table below.
Question 17
1 mark · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Which statement best describes how seat belts improve passenger safety in a car crash, using ideas about momentum?
- A.They increase the force acting on the passengers.
- B.They make the change in momentum larger.
- C.They increase the time over which momentum changes, reducing the force.
- D.They prevent the car from stopping suddenly.
Question 18
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 19
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 20
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.