SME
Grade 11 Science
Momentum, impulse and collisions
The main lesson, then each kind of problem it solves.
Momentum, impulse and collisions
Main lesson
An elastic collision
Use this for “A 1 kg cart at 4 m/s meets a 3 kg cart coming the other way at 2 m/s. They bounce apart elastically. What are their velocities after?”
Pushed apart from rest
Use this for “A spring pushes a 1.5 kg cart and a 0.5 kg cart apart from rest. The big cart moves left at 1 m/s. How fast does the small one go, and how much energy did the spring give?”
One velocity after, the other from momentum
Use this for “A 0.6 kg cart at 0.5 m/s meets a 0.4 kg cart rolling the other way at 0.25 m/s. The first cart slows to 0.1 m/s. How fast does the other cart move, and how much kinetic energy is lost?”
Impulse: force × time = change in momentum
Use this for “A 0.2 kg ball at 25 m/s bounces straight back at 15 m/s after touching a wall for 0.05 s. What average force acts on it? Why would a softer wall push less hard?”