Momentum Practice Questions
AP (Advanced Placement) · AP Physics 1 · 148 free MCQs with instant results and detailed explanations.
148
Total
48
Easy
73
Medium
27
Hard
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Sample Questions from Momentum
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Q1
Easy
A 5 kg ball moving at 2 m/s collides with a stationary 3 kg ball. Assuming an elastic collision, what is the velocity of the 3 kg ball after the collision?
A.
1 m/s
B.
2 m/s
C.
3 m/s
D.
0 m/s
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
In an elastic collision, momentum is conserved. The 3 kg ball's velocity is calculated using conservation of momentum and results in 1 m/s.
Q2
Easy
A car with a mass of 1000 kg is moving at a speed of 15 m/s. What is its momentum?
A.
15000 kg·m/s
B.
10000 kg·m/s
C.
7500 kg·m/s
D.
5000 kg·m/s
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
Momentum (p) is calculated using p = mv. Here, p = 1000 kg * 15 m/s = 15000 kg·m/s.
Q3
Easy
Two ice skaters, one with a mass of 50 kg and the other with a mass of 70 kg, push off each other. If the 50 kg skater moves away with a velocity of 2 m/s, what is the velocity of the 70 kg skater?
A.
1.43 m/s
B.
1.00 m/s
C.
1.75 m/s
D.
2.00 m/s
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
Using the principle of conservation of momentum, the total momentum before and after must be equal. The momentum of the 50 kg skater is 50 kg * 2 m/s = 100 kg·m/s. Thus, for the 70 kg skater: 100 kg·m/s = 70 kg * v. Solving gives v = 100 kg·m/s / 70 kg = 1.43 m/s.
Q4
Medium
Two ice skaters push off each other. Skater A has a mass of 50 kg and moves at a speed of 3 m/s to the right. What is the speed of skater B if their masses are equal?
A.
-3 m/s
B.
3 m/s
C.
-1.5 m/s
D.
1.5 m/s
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
By conservation of momentum, the momentum before and after must be equal. Since skater B has equal mass, their velocity must be opposite to maintain the total momentum at zero. Therefore, if skater A moves at +3 m/s, skater B must move at -3 m/s.
Q5
Medium
A 2 kg object moving to the right at 4 m/s collides elastically with a stationary 3 kg object. What is the velocity of the 2 kg object after the collision?
A.
1 m/s
B.
2 m/s
C.
3 m/s
D.
0 m/s
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
In an elastic collision, both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. Applying the formulas for final velocities, we find that the final speed of the 2 kg object is 2 m/s after the collision.
Q6
Medium
A 10 kg cart moves with a velocity of 5 m/s. It collides with a 5 kg cart moving in the opposite direction at 2 m/s. What is the final velocity of the system after an elastic collision?
A.
1.67 m/s
B.
0 m/s
C.
-1.67 m/s
D.
-2.67 m/s
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
Using the conservation of momentum and the equations for elastic collisions, we find that the final velocity is negative, indicating that the direction is opposite to the initial direction of the 10 kg cart, which results in -1.67 m/s.
Q7
Medium
A 2 kg cart moving to the right at 3 m/s collides elastically with a stationary 1 kg cart. What is the velocity of the 1 kg cart after the collision?
A.
4 m/s
B.
3 m/s
C.
2 m/s
D.
1 m/s
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: C
In an elastic collision, momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. The final velocity of the 1 kg cart can be calculated using the momentum conservation equations, leading to a velocity of 2 m/s post-collision.
Q8
Hard
A 0.5 kg ball is thrown vertically upwards with an initial velocity of 20 m/s. What is the maximum height it reaches before coming to a momentary stop? (Assume g = 10 m/s²)
A.
20 m
B.
10 m
C.
30 m
D.
40 m
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: A
Using the formula for maximum height h = (v^2) / (2g), where v is the initial velocity and g is the acceleration due to gravity, we get h = (20^2) / (2 * 10) = 400 / 20 = 20 m.
Q9
Hard
A 2 kg cart moving east at 5 m/s collides elastically with a 3 kg cart at rest. What is the velocity of the 2 kg cart after the collision?
A.
3 m/s east
B.
2 m/s east
C.
1 m/s west
D.
4 m/s east
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
Using conservation of momentum and the fact that kinetic energy is conserved in elastic collisions, we find that the 2 kg cart slows down to 2 m/s after transferring some momentum to the 3 kg cart.
Q10
Hard
A 0.5 kg ball moving at 10 m/s collides elastically with a 1.5 kg ball at rest. What is the speed of the 1.5 kg ball after the collision?
A.
3 m/s
B.
4 m/s
C.
5 m/s
D.
7 m/s
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B
Using the conservation of momentum and conservation of kinetic energy in an elastic collision, we find that the 1.5 kg ball moves with a speed of 4 m/s after the collision.
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Momentum — AP (Advanced Placement) AP Physics 1 Practice Questions Online
This page contains 148 practice MCQs for the chapter Momentum in AP (Advanced Placement) AP Physics 1. The questions are organized by difficulty — 48 easy, 73 medium, 27 hard — so you can choose the right level for your preparation.
Every question includes a detailed explanation to help you understand the concept, not just memorize answers. Take a timed quiz to simulate exam conditions, or practice at your own pace with no time limit.