Momentum (AQA GCSE Physics: Combined Science)

Exam Questions

54 mins8 questions
1a2 marks

Higher Only

Which equations relating, momentum (p), mass (m) and velocity (v) are correct?

Tick (✓) two boxes.

   

p space equals space m over v square
v space equals space p over m square
m space equals space p v square
v space equals space m over p square
p space equals space m v square
m space equals space v over p square
1b2 marks

Higher Only

State the law of conservation of momentum.

1c4 marks

Higher Only

Complete the sentences. 

Choose answers from the box. 

Each answer can be used once, more than once or not at all.

elastic different inelastic identical

 

     

When a collision is .............................. the objects move in opposite directions.

The velocities of the objects are ..............................

     

When a collision is .............................. the objects move in the same direction together.

The velocities of the objects are ..............................

1d4 marks

Higher Only

Tony falls off his skateboard, sending it flying forward at 8.5 m/s.

The skateboard has a mass of 1.5 kg.

Calculate the momentum of the skateboard.

Give your answer to 2 significant figures and give the units.

   

   

Momentum (2 significant figures) = .................................... Units = .........................

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2a2 marks

Higher Only

A stationary leaky oil barrel is left unattended overnight next to a stationary faulty radio, shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

5-9-e-2a-oil-barrel-and-radio

A spark from the radio ignites the oil leak, causing an explosion between the two objects.

State the initial momentum of the system, before the explosion.

Explain how you arrived at your answer.

You may assume the system is closed.

2b2 marks

Higher Only

State the total momentum of the system after the explosion.

Name the physics law you used to determine this answer.

2c3 marks

Higher Only

Right is defined as the positive direction. 

The oil barrel has a mass of 80 kg and moves to the left with a velocity of −3.0 m/s.

Calculate the momentum of the oil barrel.

   

   

Momentum = .................................... kg m/s
2d1 mark

Higher Only

State the momentum of the radio after the collision.

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1a2 marks

Higher Only

At a paintballing party, a group of children fire paint balls at each other using paintball guns.

The paintball guns have a mass of 0.5 kg each.

Each paintball inside the gun has a mass of 2.5 g.

Describe and explain the momentum of the paintball before the gun is fired.

Use the information above to support your answer.

1b2 marks

Higher Only

The gun fires the paintball forwards at a velocity of 70 m / s.

The paintball has a mass of 2.5 g

Calculate the momentum of the paintball just after the gun is fired.

1c2 marks

Higher Only

Compare the total momentum of the gun and paintball before and after the gun is fired, assuming no other forces were acting on the objects.

Use information from (a) and (b) above in your answer.

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22 marks

Momentum is a vector quantity.

Explain why.

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33 marks

In Figure 1, a boulderer is at rest while climbing. His foot then slips and he lands on a crash pad containing foam.

Figure 1

5-9-m-3a-bouldering-fall

He takes 1.01 s to fall.

Calculate the boulderer's speed before hitting the crash pad.

Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/s2.

Give your answer to 3 significant figures.

   

   

Speed (3 significant figures) = .................................... m/s

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14 marks

Higher Only

A young girl jumps off the edge of a shopping trolley.

The trolley is stationary at the moment the girl jumps.

The girl jumps backwards.

Describe and explain, using the idea of momentum, what happens when the girl jumps off the trolley.

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2a4 marks

Higher Only

Calculate the velocity of the two joined vehicles immediately after the collision.

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

Give your answer to 2 significant figures.

2b5 marks

Higher Only

It is a requisite of the law that all cars manufactured in the UK must have seat belts.

The driver of vehicle 1 in Figure 1 was not wearing his seatbelt when the collision occurred.

Explain why he was injured and how the seatbelt could have reduced the risk of injury.

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3a5 marks

Higher Only

A physics teacher sets up a demonstration to teach her Year 10 class ideas about the conservation of momentum.

Figure 2 shows a straight, horizontal air track and two air track trolleys, S and T, which can move along it.

Figure 2

fig-2-5-9-hard-aqa-gcse-physics

T has a mass of 3 cross times 10-1 kg and its velocity is 1.4 m / s to the left. S has a mass of 200 g and is stationary.

When T collides with S they stick together.

Calculate the velocity of the trolleys after the collision.

Show your working clearly and give the unit and direction.

3b2 marks

Higher Only

Describe the assumptions you made when calculating the velocities of the trolleys after the collision. 

3c3 marks

Higher Only

A bullet, fired from a gun, has a momentum of 4 kg m/s before it hits a target.

It takes 0.0025 s for the bullet to be stopped by the target.

Calculate the force needed to stop the bullet.

Show clearly how you work out your answer, giving any equations that you use.

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