Physics · Science General

Collisions, Momentum and Kinetic Energy

331 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 collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

sphere collides with another sphere of identical mass kept at rest. Mier collision, the two spheres move. The collision is perfectly inelastic, then the angle between the directions of motion of the two spheres is

  1. ${ 0 }^{ o }$
  2. ${ 45 }^{ o }$
  3. different from ${ 90 }^{ o }$
  4. ${ 90 }^{ o }$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In a perfectly inelastic collision between identical masses, the spheres stick together and move with a common velocity after collision. Since they combine and move as one object, they travel in the same direction, making the angle between their motion directions 0°.

Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

A smooth sphere A of mass m collides elastically with an identical sphere B at rest. The velocity of A before collision is $8 m/s$ in a direction making $60^{o}$ with the line joining the centres at the time of impact. Which of the following is/are possible:

  1. the sphere a comes to rest after collision
  2. the sphere B will move with a speed of $8 m/s$ after collision

  3. the directions of motion of A and B after collision are at right angles
  4. the speed of B after collision is $2 m/s$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

For an elastic collision between identical masses where one is at rest, the particles move at 90 degrees to each other after the collision, provided the collision is not head-on.

Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

An object is moving towards a mirror with  a velocity v as shown in figure.if the collision between the mirror and the object is perfectly elastic, then the velocity of the image after collision with mirror in vector form is.

  1. $ - v\;\widehat j$
  2. $ - v\;\cos \;2\theta \widehat j + v\;\sin \;2\theta \;\widehat i$
  3. $ - v\widehat i$
  4. $ - v\;\cos \theta \;j - \;v\;\sin \theta \;\widehat i$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

A body of mass $m$ moving with velocity $u$ collides elastically with another body of mass $m$ at rest. After collision, they moves in a plane with velocities $V _{1}$ and $V _{2}$ respectively. Then the angle beteen $\vec{V} _{1}$ and $\vec{V} _{2}$ is

  1. $zero$
  2. $60^{o}$
  3. $90^{o}$
  4. $180^{o}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In a head-on elastic collision between two bodies of equal mass, they exchange velocities. If the second body was at rest, the first body comes to rest and the second moves with the initial velocity of the first. The angle between them is 180 degrees if we consider the path of the first body after it stops (which is not applicable) or 0 degrees. However, in general 2D elastic collisions of equal masses, they move at 90 degrees. The option 180 degrees is likely a distractor or refers to a specific 1D case.

Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

Two solid balls of rubber $A$ and $B$ whose masses are $200\ gm$ and $400\ gm$ respectively, are moving in mutually opposite directions. if the velocity of ball A is $0.3\ m/s$ and both the ball come to rest after collision, then the velocity of ball $B$ is :

  1. $0.15\ m/s$
  2. $-0.15\ m/s$
  3. $1.5\ m/s$
  4. $None\ of\ these$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Initial linear momentum of system 

$= [{{m} _{A}}{{\vec{v}} _{A}}+{{m} _{B}}{{\vec{v}} _{B}}]$

$= 0.2 \times  0.3 + 0.4 \times  vB$

Finally both balls come to rest \ final linear momentum = 0 

By the law of conservation of linear momenum        

$0.2 \times  0.3 + 0.4 \times  vB = 0$

$[{{v} _{B}}=-\dfrac{0.2\times 0.3}{0.4}=-0.15\ m/s]$
Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

A ball of mass m moving with velocity V makes a head on  elastic collision with a ball of the same mass moving with velocity 2V towards it. Taking direction of V as positive velocities of the two balls after collision are

  1. -V and 2V

  2. 2V and -V

  3. V and -2V

  4. -2V and V
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In a head-on elastic collision between two bodies of equal mass, the velocities simply swap. Before collision, ball 1 has velocity V and ball 2 has velocity -2V (moving towards it). After the elastic collision, their velocities become -2V and V respectively.

Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

Two billiard balls undergo a head-on collision. Ball 1 is twice as heavy as ball 2. Initially, ball 1 moves with a speed $v$ toward ball $2$ which is at rest. Immediately after collision, ball 1 travels at a speed of $v/3$ in the same direction. What type of collision has occured?

  1. inelastic

  2. elastic

  3. completely inelastic

  4. cannot be determined from the information given
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Solving the equation of conservation of momentum give us that the relative velocity of approach is equal to the relative velocity of separation. Hence coefficient of restitution is 1.
Which means collision is elastic. 

Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

The collision of two balls of equal mass takes place at the origin of coordinates. Before collision, the components of velocities are $(V _x = 50 c m s^{-1},  V _{y} = 0)$ and $(V _{x} = -40 c m s^{-1}$ and $V _{y} = 30 c m s^{-1})$. The first ball comes to rest after collision. The velocity (components $V _{x}$ and $V _{y}$ respectively) of the second ball are

  1. 10 and 30 $c m s^{-1}$
  2. 30 and 10 $c m s^{-1}$
  3. 5 and 15 $c m s^{-1}$
  4. 15 and $5 c m s^{-1}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Using conservation of momentum in two dimensions for equal masses, the sum of x and y velocity components before collision must equal the sum after collision. Initial total V_x = 50 - 40 = 10, and since the first ball comes to rest (V_x = 0, V_y = 0), the second ball must carry the total momentum, giving V_x = 10 and V_y = 30 - 0 = 30 cm/s.

Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

Which of the following does not hold when two particles of masses $m _1$ and $m _2$ undergo elastic collision?

  1. When $m _1 =m _2$ and $m _2$ is stationary, there is maximum transfer of kinetic energy in head an collision
  2. When $m _1=m _2$ and $m _2$ is stationary , there is maximum transfer of momentum in head on collision
  3. when $m _1 >> m _2$ and $m _2$ is stationary, after head on collision $m _2$ moves with twice the velocity of $m _1$
  4. When the collision is oblique and $m _1=m _2$ with $m _2$ stationary, after the collision the particle move in opposite directions.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When m1 = m2 and m2 is stationary, the first particle transfers all its kinetic energy to the second particle in a head-on collision. This is the maximum possible transfer.

Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

Two identical balls A and B collide head on elastically. If velocities of A and B, before the collision are +0.5 m/s and -0.3 m/s respectively, then their velocities, after the collision, are respectively

  1. -0.5 m/s and +0.3 m/s

  2. +0.5 m/s and +0.3 m/s

  3. +0.3 m/s and -0.5 m/s

  4. -0.3 m/s and +0.5 m/s
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When identical balls collide $elastically $ they just $exchange$ their $SPEEDS$ and get reversed.

This can be verified by applying the $momentum$ conservation and $energy$ conservation, yes energy remains
 conserved for elastic collisions.
so the exchanged velocities will be following $v _1=0.3m/s$ and $v _2=-0.5m/s$

Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

For head-on collision between two colliding balls of equal radii $r$, the impact parameter is equal to

  1. $2r$
  2. $Zero$
  3. $More \ than \ 2r$
  4. $Less\ than \ 2r$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The impact parameter is the perpendicular distance between the path of the projectile and the center of the target body. For a direct head-on collision, the centers of the two colliding bodies are directly aligned along the line of motion, making the impact parameter zero.

Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

In a one-dimensional collision between two particles, their relative velocity is $\bar{v _1}$ before the collision and $\bar{v _2}$ and the collision.

  1. $\bar{v _1} = \bar{v _2}$ if the collision is elastic.
  2. $\bar{v _1} = - \bar{v _2}$ if the collision is elastic.
  3. $|\bar{v _2}| = |\bar{v _1}|$ in all cases.
  4. $\bar{v _1} = - k \bar{v _2}$ in all cases, where k $\geq$ 1.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B,C,D Correct answer
Explanation

If $ { v } _{ 1 }$ is relative velocity before collision.
if ${ v } _{ 2 } $ is relative velocity before collision.
$e\le 1\$
$ e=\dfrac { { v } _{ 1 } }{ { -v } _{ 2 } } $


so $\left| { v } _{ 1 } \right| \ge \left| { v } _{ 2 } \right| $
also due to impact the ratios of velocity get changed,relative velocities D is correct. also, for elastic collision e$=$1.
So, option B is correct only if both particles have equal masses,not in general.

Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

In a one-dimensional collision between two identical particles $A$  and $B,\  B$ is stationary and  $A$ has momentum $p$  before impact. During impact, $B$  gives impulse $J$ to $A$.

  1. The total momentum of the '$A\ plus\ B$' system is $p$ before and after the impact, and $(p - J)$ during the impact.
  2. During the impact, $A$ gives impulse $J$ to $B$.
  3. The coefficient of restitution is $\displaystyle \dfrac{2 J}{p} - 1$
  4. The coefficient of restitution is $\displaystyle \dfrac{ J}{p} + 1$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B,C Correct answer
Explanation

Let  $u=$ speed of A before impact. Thus,  $p=mu$.
Let $v _1, v _2 = $ speeds of  $A$ and $B$ after impact.
$u = v _1 + v _2 $ and $v _1 - v _2 = - eu$
$u = v _1 + v _2$ and $v _1 - v _2 = - eu$


$\therefore v _1 = \dfrac{1}{2} u (1-e)$ and $v _2 = \dfrac{1}{2} u (1 + e)$

$J = mv _2 = m \displaystyle \left [ \dfrac{1}{2} u (1 + e) \right ] = \dfrac{1}{2} p (1 + e)$

$\Rightarrow e=\dfrac{2J}{p}-1$

Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

A sphere of mass m moving with a constant velocity collides with another stationary sphere of same mass. The ratio of velocities of two spheres after collision will be, if the co-efficient of restitution is e:

  1. $\displaystyle \frac{1 - e}{1 + e}$
  2. $\displaystyle \frac{e - 1}{e + 1}$
  3. $\displaystyle \frac{1 + e}{1 - e}$
  4. $\displaystyle \frac{e + 1}{e - 1}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The law of conservation  of linear momentum tells us that the overall momentum before the collision must be equal to the overall momentum after a collision.

Since the spheres have identical masses, we can write

$mu + m\times 0 = mv _A + mv _B$

$u = v _A+v _B$

From the definition of the coefficient of restitution, we know that

$e = \dfrac{v _B - v _A}{u}$

solving above two equations

$e \times ( v _A+v _B) = v _B - v _A$

$v _B(1-e) = v _A (1+e)$

$\dfrac{v _A}{v _B} = \dfrac{1-e}{1+e}$

Multiple choice collisions in one dimension collisions work, energy and power mechanics physics

In head on elastic collision of two bodies of equal masses:

  1. the velocities are interchanged

  2. the speeds are interchanged

  3. the momentum are interchanged

  4. the faster body slows down and the slower body speeds up
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A,B,C,D Correct answer
Explanation

For a head-on collision with a stationary object of equal mass, the projectile will come to rest and the target will move off with equal velocity. Hence, the velocities are interchanged i.e. the speeds are interchanged which in turn interchanges the momentum. Also, if target have some velocity then the faster body slows down and the slower body speed up.