SAMPLE PROBLEM 1: What is the magnitude of the momentum of a 28 g sparrow flying with a

speed of 8.4 m/s?

Given: m= 28 g convert to 0.28 kg
v= 8.4 m/s
Unknown: Momentum (p)
Formula: 𝒑 = 𝒎𝒗
Solution
Solve first for 𝒑 = 𝒎𝒗 𝒎
momentum: 𝒑 = (𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟖 𝒌𝒈)(𝟖. 𝟒 )
𝒔
𝒑 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟒 𝒌𝒈. 𝒎/𝒔
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2: A constant friction force of 25 N acts on a 65 kg skier for 15 sec on level
snow. What is the skier’s change in velocity?
Given: m=65 kg
F= 25 N
t= 15 s
Unknown: 𝛥𝑣⃗
Formula: 𝐹⃗ Δ𝑡 = 𝑚Δ𝑣⃗
Solution
𝐹⃗ Δ𝑡 = 𝑚Δ𝑣⃗
𝐹⃗ 𝛥𝑡
𝛥𝑣⃗ =
Solve for the velocity: 𝑚
(25 𝑁)(15 𝑠)
𝛥𝑣⃗ = −
(65 𝑘𝑔)
⃗⃗ = −𝟓. 𝟕𝟕 𝒎/𝒔
𝜟𝒗
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3: Railroad cars collide: momentum conserved. A 10,000 kg railroad car, A, travelling
at a speed of 24.0 m/s strikes an identical car, B, at rest. If the cars lock together as a result of the
collision, what is their common speed just afterward?

mA= 10,000 kg
Given: mB= 10,000 kg
vA= 24 m/s
Unknown: 𝑣′
Formula: 𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑣𝐴 + 𝑚𝐵 𝑣𝐵 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑣𝐴
𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑣𝐴 + 𝑚𝐵 𝑣𝐵 = 𝑚𝐴 𝑣𝐴
𝑃𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 = (𝑚𝐴 + 𝑚𝐴 )𝑣 ′
𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 = 𝑃𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙
𝑚𝐴 𝑣𝐴 = (𝑚𝐴 + 𝑚𝐴 )𝑣 ′
𝑚𝐴
𝑣′ = 𝑣
Solution: 𝑚𝐴 + 𝑚𝐵 𝐴

(10,000 𝑘𝑔) 𝑚
𝑣′ = (24 )
(10,000𝑘𝑔 + 10,000𝑘𝑔 ) 𝑠

𝒗′ = 𝟏𝟐 𝒎/𝒔