Physics · Science General

Collisions, Momentum and Kinetic Energy

385 Questions

Collisions, momentum, and kinetic energy questions analyze the principles of elastic and inelastic impacts. They require calculating mass, velocity, and conserved energy during physical interactions. These foundational physics topics are essential for most government engineering and general science examinations.

Elastic collisionsInelastic collisionsMomentum calculationKinetic energy principlesVelocity after impact

Collisions, Momentum and Kinetic Energy Questions

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology
  1. newton metre

  2. metre per second squared

  3. newton second

  4. metre per quartic second

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity, giving the SI unit metre per second squared (m/s²). Newton metre is torque, newton second is impulse (momentum change), and metre per quartic second is not a meaningful physical unit.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology
  1. K = m g h

  2. K = ½ m v2

  3. K = ½ m v2 + m g h

  4. K = ½ m v2 * m g h

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, calculated as K = ½mv² (half mass times velocity squared). Option A (mgh) is gravitational potential energy, option C is total mechanical energy, and option D is nonsensical.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology
  1. k = (1/2).m.v.v.v

  2. k = 0.5m.v

  3. k = (1/2).m.v

  4. k = (1/2).m.v.v

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The correct formula for kinetic energy is k = (1/2)mv², where m is mass and v is velocity. Option D correctly shows k = (1/2).m.v.v which represents mv². Option A has an extra v (v³), Option B is incomplete (0.5mv), and Option C only has mv (not squared).

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology
  1. 2/3 m/s

  2. 1/3 m/s

  3. 4/3 m/s

  4. 5/3 m/s

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Using conservation of momentum: Initial momentum = (2kg × 3m/s) + (1kg × -4m/s) = 6 - 4 = 2 kg m/s. After collision, combined mass = 3kg moving with velocity v. So 3v = 2, giving v = 2/3 m/s. The negative sign for object B's velocity indicates opposite direction.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology
  1. 8 fold increase

  2. 4 fold increase

  3. 2 fold increase

  4. None of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Using impulse-momentum theorem: impulse J = F × t = Δp = mΔv. When force doubles (2F) and time doubles (2t), impulse becomes 2F × 2t = 4Ft, which is 4 times the original. Since mass is constant, velocity change also increases 4-fold. The 8-fold option incorrectly multiplies only the force, while 2-fold ignores one factor.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology
  1. 0 meters per second squared

  2. 8 meters per second squared

  3. 80 meters per second squared

  4. 0.8 meters per second squared

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Net force = applied force - friction. Friction = μmg = 0.4 × 10 × 9.8 = 39.2N. Applied force = 20N, so friction exceeds applied force. The object won't move, meaning acceleration is 0 m/s². Options B and D come from incorrectly ignoring friction or misapplying the formula.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology
  1. 2 times as fast

  2. 16 times as fast

  3. 4 times as fast

  4. the same speed

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The pendulum bob's speed at the bottom is given by v = sqrt(2gh). When the height is quadrupled, the speed only doubles (sqrt(4) = 2). In a perfectly elastic collision between objects of equal mass, the bob transfers all its velocity to the block, so the block's initial speed becomes twice as fast.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology
  1. Energy

  2. Momentum

  3. Force

  4. Acceleration

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Momentum is defined as the product of an object's mass and its velocity (p = mv). This is a fundamental concept in physics describing the quantity of motion. Energy, Force, and Acceleration are related but distinct quantities - Energy is 1/2 mv^2 for kinetic energy, Force equals mass times acceleration (F=ma), and Acceleration is the rate of velocity change.

Multiple choice general knowledge
  1. mv

  2. 2mv

  3. zero

  4. cannot be determined

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In an elastic collision with a wall, the velocity reverses direction but keeps the same magnitude. Momentum changes from +mv to -mv, so Δp = (-mv) - (+mv) = -2mv. The magnitude of impulse is |Δp| = 2mv. Impulse equals change in momentum, not just momentum (mv). Zero would mean no collision, and the answer is determinable.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology
  1. mg

  2. m

  3. g

  4. mgh

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The gravitational potential energy of a body of mass m at height h above ground level is given by PE = mgh, where g is acceleration due to gravity. This formula represents the work done against gravity to raise the mass to height h. Option A (mg) is weight, option B (m) is just mass, and option C (g) is just gravitational acceleration - none of these are energy.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology
  1. m x g x h

  2. (m x m x g)/2

  3. (m x g x h)/3

  4. (m x h x h)

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The potential energy (PE) of an object at height h is given by PE = m × g × h, where m is mass, g is acceleration due to gravity, and h is height. This formula represents the work done against gravity to lift the object. The other options are incorrect: option B resembles kinetic energy formula, options C and D have incorrect mathematical relationships.

Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology
  1. velocity

  2. momentum

  3. acceleration

  4. kinetic energy

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

From Newton's second law: F = dp/dt, so change in momentum p = F × t. Since both bodies experience the same force for the same time, they acquire the same momentum. Lighter body will have greater velocity and kinetic energy (different acceleration).