Mechanics: Momentum and Collisions

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Momentum and Collisions: Problem Set

Problem 1:

Determine the momentum of …

a. … an electron (m= 9.1 x10-31 kg) moving at 2.18 x 106 m/s (as if it were in a Bohr
orbit in the H atom).
b. … a 0.45 Caliber bullet (m = 0.162 kg) leaving the muzzle of a gun at 860 m/s.
c. … a 110-kg professional fullback running across the line at 9.2 m/s.
d. … a 360,000-kg passenger plane taxiing down a runway at 1.5 m/s
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
a. 2.0 x 10-24 kg•m/s
b. 140 kg•m/s (rounded from 139 kg•m/s) 
c. 1.0 x 103 kg•m/s
d. 5.4 x 105 kg•m/s
Problem 2:

A bicycle has a momentum of 24 kg•m/s. What momentum would the bicycle have if it
had …
a. … twice the mass and was moving at the same speed?
b. … the same mass and was moving with twice the speed?
c. … one-half the mass and was moving with twice the speed?
d. … the same mass and was moving with one-half the speed?
e. … three times the mass and was moving with one-half the speed?
f. … three times the mass and was moving with twice the speed?
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
a. 48 kg•m/s
b. 48 kg•m/s
c. 24 kg•m/s
d. 12 kg•m/s
e. 36 kg•m/s
f. 144 kg•m/s
Problem 3:
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the fastest recorded baseball pitch
was delivered by Nolan Ryan in 1974. The pitch was clocked at 100.9 mi/hr (45.0 m/s).
Determine the impulse required to give a 0.145-kg baseball such a momentum.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
6.52 N•s (or 6.52 kg•m/s)
Problem 4:

Jerome plays middle linebacker for South's varsity football team. In a game against
cross-town rival North, he delivered a hit to North's 82-kg running back, changing his
eastward velocity of 5.6 m/s into a westward velocity of 2.5 m/s.
a. Determine the initial momentum of the running back.
b. Determine the final momentum of the running back.
c. Determine the momentum change of the running back.
d. Determine the impulse delivered to the running back.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
a. 460 kg•m/s, east (rounded from 459 kg•m/s)
b. 210 kg•m/s, west (rounded from 205 kg•m/s)
c. 660 kg•m/s, west (rounded from 664 kg•m/s)
d. 660 N•s, west
Problem 5:

Kara Less was applying her makeup when she drove into South's busy parking lot last
Friday morning. Unaware that Lisa Ford was stopped in her lane 30 feet ahead, Kara
rear-ended Lisa's rented Taurus. Kara's 1300-kg car was moving at 11 m/s and stopped
in 0.14 seconds.
a. Determine the momentum change of Kara's car.
b. Determine the impulse experienced by Kara's car.
c. Determine the magnitude of the force experienced by Kara's car.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
a. -1.4 x 104 kg•m/s
b. -1.4 x 104 N•s
c. 1.0 x 105 N
Problem 6:

An interesting story is often told of baseball star Johnny Bench when he was a rookie
catcher in 1968. During a Spring Training game, he kept signaling to star pitcher Jim
Maloney to throw a curve ball. Maloney continuously shook off Bench's signal, opting to
throw fastballs instead. The rookie catcher walked to the mound and told the veteran
Maloney that his fastball wasn't fast enough and that he should throw some curve balls.
Bench again signaled for a curve. Maloney shook of the signal and threw a fastball.
Before the ball reached the plate, Bench took off his glove; he then caught the pitch
barehanded.
a. Determine the impulse required to stop a 0.145-kg baseball moving at 35.7 m/s
(80.0 mi/hr).
b. If this impulse is delivered to the ball in 0.020 seconds, then what is magnitude of
the force acting between the bare hand and the ball?
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
a. -5.18 N•s
b. 260 N (rounded from 259 N)
Problem 7:

While playing basketball in PE class, Logan lost his balance after making a lay-up and
colliding with the padded wall behind the basket. His 74-kg body decelerated from 7.6
m/s to 0 m/s in 0.16 seconds.
a. Determine the force acting upon Logan's body.
b. If Logan had hit the concrete wall moving at the same speed, his momentum would
have been reduced to zero in 0.0080 seconds. Determine what the force on his body
would have been for such an abrupt collision.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
a. 3.5 x 103 N
b. 7.0 x 104 N
Problem 8:

NASA's Langley Research Center has been experimenting with the use of air bags to
soften the landings of crew exploration vehicles (CEV) on land. What stopping time will
be required in order to safely stop a 7250 kg CEV moving at 7.65 m/s with an average
force of 426000 N (an average force of 6 Gs)?
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
0.130 seconds
Problem 9:

In a study conducted by a University of Illinois researcher, the football team at Unity

High School in Tolono, IL was equipped for an entire season with helmets containing
accelerometers. Information about every impact in practice and in games was sent to a
computer present on the sidelines. The study found that the average force on a top of
the head impact was 1770 N and endured for 7.78 milliseconds. Using a head mass of
5.20 kg and presuming the head to be a free body, determine the velocity change
experienced in such an impact.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
2.65 m/s
Problem 10:

Cassie has just finished her session on the trampoline during PE. As she prepares to exit
the trampoline, her vertical momentum is reduced by a series of three resistive
impulses with the bounce mat. Just prior to this series of impulses, her 48.5-kg body is
moving downward at 8.20 m/s. On the first impulse, Cassie experiences an average
upward force of 230 N for 0.65 seconds. The second impulse of 112 N•s lasts for 0.41
seconds. The last impulse involves an average upward force of 116 N which cases a 84
kg•m/s momentum change. What vertical velocity does Cassie have after these three
impulses?
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
1.08 m/s
Problem 11:

Aaron Agin nodded off while driving home from play practice this past Sunday evening.
His 1500-kg car hit a series of guardrails while moving at 19.8 m/s. The first guard rail
delivered a resistive impulse of 5700 N•s. The second guard rail pushed against his car
with a force of 79000 N for 0.12 seconds. The third guard rail collision lowered the car's
velocity by 3.2 m/s. Determine the final velocity of the car.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
6.5 m/s
Problem 12:

Mr. H ignites the enthusiasm of the class with a home-made cannon demonstration.
The 1.27-kg cannon is loaded with a 54-gram tennis ball and placed on the floor. Mr. H
adds the fuel, waits for its vapors to fill the reaction chamber and then brings a match
nearby. The explosion stuns the crowd and propels the ball forward. A photogate
measurement determines that the cannon recoiled backwards with a speed of 7.8 m/s.
Determine the speed of the ball.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
180 m/s
Problem 13:
An 82-kg male and a 48-kg female pair figure skating team are gliding across the ice at
7.4 m/s, preparing for a throw jump maneuver. The male skater tosses the female
skater forward with a speed of 8.6 m/s. Determine the speed of the male skater
immediately after the throw.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
6.7 m/s
Problem 14:

A candy-filled piñata is hung from a tree for Matthew's birthday. During an unsuccessful
attempt to break the 4.4-kg piñata, Hayden cracks it with a 0.54-kg stick moving at 4.8
m/s. The stick stops and the piñata undergoes a gentle swinging motion. Determine the
swing speed of the piñata immediately after being cracked by the stick.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
0.59 m/s
Problem 15:

During an in-class demonstration of momentum change and impulse, Mr. H asks

Jerome (102 kg) and Michael (98 kg) to sit on a large 14-kg skate cart. Mr. H asks Suzie
(44 kg) to sit on a second 14-kg skate cart. The two carts are placed on low friction
boards in the hallway. Jerome pushes off of Suzie's cart. Measurements are made to
determine that Suzie's cart acquired a post-impulse speed of 9.6 m/s. Determine the
expected recoil speed of Jerome and Michael's cart.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
2.6 m/s
Problem 16:

A 70.9-kg boy and a 43.2-kg girl, both wearing skates face each other at rest on a
skating rink. The boy pushes the girl, sending her eastward with a speed of 4.64 m/s.
Neglecting friction, determine the subsequent velocity of the boy.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
2.83 m/s, West
Problem 17:

To Mr. H's disgust, a 450-g black crow is raiding the recently-filled bird feeder. As Mr. H
runs out the back door with his broom in an effort to scare the crow away, it pushes off
the 670-gram feeder with a takeoff speed of 1.5 m/s. Determine the speed at which the
feeder initially recoils backwards.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
1.0 m/s
Problem 18:

Jaclyn plays singles for South's varsity tennis team. During the match against North,
Jaclyn won the sudden death tiebreaker point with a cross-court passing shot. The
57.5-gram ball hit her racket with a northward velocity of 26.7 m/s. Upon impact with
her 331-gram racket, the ball rebounded in the exact opposite direction (and along the
same general trajectory) with a speed of 29.5 m/s.
a. Determine the pre-collision momentum of the ball.
b. Determine the post-collision momentum of the ball.
c. Determine the momentum change of the ball.
d. Determine the velocity change of the racket.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
a. 1.54 x 103 g•m/s, North (1.54 kg•m/s, North)
b. 1.70 x 103 g•m/s, South (1.70 kg•m/s, South)
c. 3.23 x 103 g•m/s, South (3.23 kg•m/s, South)
d. 9.76 m/s, North
Problem 19:

Anna Litical and Noah Formula are doing The Cart and the Brick Lab. They drop a brick
on a 2.6 kg cart moving at 28.2 cm/s. After the collision, the dropped brick and cart are
moving together with a velocity of 15.7 cm/s. Determine the mass of the dropped brick.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
2.1 kg
Problem 20:

A Roller Derby exhibition recently came to town. They packed the gym for two
consecutive weekend nights at South's field house. On Saturday evening, the 68-kg
Anna Mosity was moving at 17 m/s when she collided with 76-kg Sandra Day O'Klobber
who was moving forward at 12 m/s and directly in Anna's path. Anna jumped onto
Sandra's back and the two continued moving together at the same speed. Determine
their speed immediately after the collision.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
Problem 21:
Ima Rilla Saari rushes to her car in order to hurry home and get dressed for work.
Failing to realize the dangers of driving under slick and icy conditions, she collides her
940-kg Mazda Miata into the rear of a 2460-kg pick-up truck which was at rest at the
light on Lake Avenue. Ima's pre-collision speed was 12.5 m/s. Determine the post-
collision speed of the two entangled cars as they slide across the ice.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
3.5 m/s
Problem 22:

In a goal line stand against New Greer Academy, South's linebackers Jerome (m=102
kg) and Michael (m=98 kg) meet the 84-kg halfback moving southward through the air
at 6.4 m/s. Upon contact, Jerome and Michael are both moving at 3.6 m/s in the exact
opposite direction. Determine the post-collision speed and direction of the collection of
three players. Assume they move together after the collision.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
0.64 m/s, North
Problem 23:

Hayden (m=24.3-kg) is gliding along the sidewalk on his skateboard at 8.6 ft/s. As he
travels under a low-hanging branch of the tree where Matthew is sitting, he grabs the
4.5-kg bag of soccer balls from Matthew's hands. Determine the speed of Hayden
immediately after grabbing the bag of soccer balls.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
7.3 ft/s
Problem 24:

Rex (m=86 kg) and Tex (92 kg) board the bumper cars at the local carnival. Rex is
moving at a full speed of 2.05 m/s when he rear-ends Tex who is at rest in his path.
Tex and his 125-kg car lunge forward at 1.40 m/s. Determine the post-collision speed
of Rex and his 125-kg car.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
0.61 m/s
Problem 25:

Abbey and Mia are in the basement playing pool. On Abbey's recent shot, the cue ball
was moving east at 82 cm/s when it struck the slower 5-ball moving in the same
direction at 24 cm/s. The 5-ball immediately speeds up to 52 cm/s. Determine the post-
collision speed of the cue ball.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
54 cm/s
Problem 26:

Polly Ester and Ray Ahn are doing the Elastic Collision lab on a low-friction track. Cart A
has a mass of 1.00 kg and is moving rightward at 27.6 cm/s prior to the collision with
Cart B. Cart B has a mass of 0.50 kg and is moving leftward with a speed of 42.9 cm/s.
After the magnetic repulsion of the two carts, Cart A is moving leftward at 10.1 cm/s.
Determine the post-collision speed and direction of cart B.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
32.5 cm/s, Right
Problem 27:

Bailey is on the tenth frame of her recent bowling competition and she needs to pick up
the last pin for a spare and the first place trophy. She rolls the 7.05-kg ball down the
lane and it hits the 1.52-kg pin head on. The ball was moving at 8.24 m/s before the
collision. The pin went flying forward at 13.2 m/s. Determine the post-collision speed of
the ball.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
5.39 m/s
Problem 28:

Jack D. Ripper flipped out after missing a Must-Do-It question for the third time on his
Minds On Physics assignment. Outraged by the futility of his efforts, he flings a 4.0-
gram pencil across the room. The pencil lodges into a 221.0-gram Sponge Bob doll
which is at rest on a countertop. Once in motion, the pencil/doll combination slide a
distance of 11.9 cm across the countertop before stopping. The coefficient of friction
between the doll and the countertop is 0.325. Determine the speed at which the pencil
is moving prior to striking Sponge Bob.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
49 m/s
Problem 29:

A physics student hurls a 315-gram ball directly into a 3.54-kg box which is at rest on a
table top. The baseball strikes the box with a pre-impact speed of 54.1 m/s. The box is
filled with towels to help absorb the blow and effectively catch the ball. The coefficient
of friction between the box and the table is 0.714. Determine the distance which the
ball and box slide across the table after the collision.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
1.40 m
Problem 30:

A 72-kg boy and a 48-kg girl, both wearing ice skates face each other at rest on a
skating rink. The boy pushes the girl, sending her eastward with a speed of 6.8 m/s.
When the impulse is completed, the boy and girl are a distance of 1.4 meters apart.
Determine the distance of separation between the boy and the girl 5.0 seconds after
the impulse is completed.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
58.1 m
Problem 31:

The city police are in pursuit of Robin Banks after his recent holdup at the savings and
loan. The high speed police chase ends at an intersection as a 2080-kg Ford Explorer
(driven by Robin) traveling north at 32.6 m/s collides with a 18400-kg garbage truck
moving east at 12.4 m/s. The Explorer and the garbage truck entangle together in the
middle of the intersection and move as a single object. Determine the post-collision
speed and direction of the two entangled vehicles.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
11.6 m/s, 16.6° N of E
Problem 32:

A 92-kg fullback moving south with a speed of 5.8 m/s is tackled by a 110-kg lineman
running west with a speed of 3.6 m/s. Assuming momentum conservation, determine
the speed and direction of the two players immediately after the tackle.
 Audio Guided Solution
 Show Answer
3.3 m/s, 53° S of W