4 Momentum Exam practice questions
Page 52–54 Exam practice questions
−3 −1
1 a) Bullet’s momentum = 6.0 × 10 kg × 450 m s
−1
= 2.7 kg m s [1]
−1
b) Canal barge’s momentum = 12 000 kg × 1.5 m s due east [1]
−1 −1
c) 50 km h = 50 000 m/3600 s = 13.9 m s , so the truck’s momentum is
−1 5 −1
8700 kg × 13.9 m s = 1.2 × 10 kg m s [1]
[Total 3 Marks]
2 B [Total 1 Mark]
3 C [Total 1 Mark]
4 B [Total 1 Mark]
5 C [Total 1 Mark]
6 A [Total 1 Mark]
7 C [Total 1 Mark]
8
−1 −1
Momentum is conserved. ∴m × 390 km s + 0 = (M + m) × 30 km s
360m = 30M, i.e. M = 12m
So m is one-twelfth of the mass of the carbon nucleus
[Total 1 Mark]
(perhaps it is a neutron)
9 D [Total 1 Mark]
−1
10 Initial momentum = 0.055 kg × 6 m s down
−1
= 0.33 kg m s down [1]
−1
Final momentum = 0.055 kg × 4 m s up
−1
= 0.22 kg m s up [1]
−1 −1
∴ The change of momentum = 0.22 kg m s up − (−0.33 kg m s up)
−1
= 0.55 kg m s up [1]
−1
(A simpler solution would be to say that the change of velocity is 10 m s up etc.)
[Total 3 Marks]
© Graham George & Mike Benn 2015
4 Momentum Exam practice questions
11
a)
[2]
2 −1 2 −1 2
b) R = (100 kg m s ) + (50 kg m s )
−1
R = 112 kg m s [2]
[Total 4 Marks]
12 The boat will ‘recoil’ with a speed υ in such a way that the total momentum remains zero.
−1
300 kg × υ = 50 kg × 1.2 m s [1]
−1
υ = 0.20 m s [1]
[Total 2 Marks]
13 The area under the graph ≈ 10.5 squares [1], each of which represents 200 N × 0.002 s [1]
∴ the impulse exerted by the wall on the ball = 10.5 × 200 N × 0.002 s
−1
= 4.2 N s or 4.2 kg m s [1]
Using the impulse–momentum equation, FΔt = mΔυ, the change in velocity Δυ of the ball
Δυ = FΔt/m
−1
= 4.2 kg m s /0.0575 kg
−1
= 73 m s [1]
[Total 4 Marks]
14 The rocket car ejects hot gases backwards. These gases are given backward momentum. [1]
As momentum is conserved, the car gains forward momentum. [1]
[Total 2 Marks]
© Graham George & Mike Benn 2015
4 Momentum Exam practice questions
15
[Total 3 Marks]
16
The impulse of the club on the ball is equal to the area under the graph. [1]
Approximating the curved graph to a single triangle of height 2600 N and base 3.6 ms leads to an
approximate area of ½ × 2600 N × 0.0036 s = 4.68 N s [1]
−1
The momentum of the 45 g golf ball as it leaves the club is therefore 9.36 kg m s , and so the
−1 −1
initial speed of the club = 4.68 kg m s /0.045 kg = 104 m s [1]
[Total 3 Marks]
17 Yes, the Earth recoils because the principle of conservation of momentum always applies. [1]
The total upward momentum of the Indian people in this experiment is
9 −1
1 × 10 × 60 kg × 2 m s [1]
10 −1
= 1.2 × 10 kg m s [1]
so the Earth must recoil in the opposite direction with exactly this momentum.
If the Earth’s recoil speed is υ, then
24 10 −1
6 × 10 kg × υ = 1.2 × 10 kg m s [1]
−15 −1
giving υ = 2 × 10 m s (so none of us on the other side of the Earth will feel the Earth move
when one billion Indians jump into the air). [1]
[Total 5 Marks]
18 As the helicopter is stationary, there is an upward force on it equal to its weight W – Newton’s
first law. [1]
As the helicopter forces air down, the air pushes the helicopter up with an equal but opposite
force F – Newton’s third law. [1]
© Graham George & Mike Benn 2015
4 Momentum Exam practice questions
The push of the helicopter on the air down, F = υΔm/Δt
−1 −1
∴ 1200 kg × 9.8 N kg = 20 m s × Δm/Δt [1]
−1
Δm/Δt = 590 kg s [1]
[Total 4 Marks]
2 3
19 The volume of air that reaches the wall in 1 second = 120 m × 25 m = 3000 m [1]
3 −1 −3 −1
So the mass-rate of arrival of air Δm/Δt = 3000 m s × 1.3 kg m = 3900 kg s [1]
−1 −1
∴ the force exerted by the wall on the air υΔm/Δt = 25 m s × 3900 kg s
= 98 000 N or nearly 100 kN [1]
By Newton’s third law the force exerted by the wind on the wall = 98 000 N [1]
[Total 4 Marks]
Stretch and challenge
20 a) After the runner’s foot first touches the ground at 0.05 s, the horizontal force of the ground is
backwards, slowing the runner down. [1] This reaches a maximum at t ≈ 0.1 s. [1]
At t = 0.175 s the forward force of the ground on the jogger is zero [1] and after that there is
a forward force on him until his foot leaves the ground at t ≈ 0.34 s. [1]
b) The average backward force ≈ 120 N, [1] because a horizontal line drawn at this level splits
the area of the curve below the axis into two approximately equal areas. [1]
c) The area under the graph represents the jogger’s change of momentum. [1] The backward
change in momentum is the same as the forward change of momentum, so the runner
continues forward at the same velocity as a result of this stride. [1]
d) The area is nearly 2½ ‘big’ squares. [1] One big square is equivalent to a change of
−1
momentum of 200 N × 0.05 s = 10 N s = 10 kg m s . [1]
−1
So the area under the graph ≈ 25 kg m s . [1]
[Total 11 Marks]
© Graham George & Mike Benn 2015
