Name: Date: Pd.

Practice: Conservation of Momentum

Sometimes, object ‘stick together’ after they hit one another. This would mean that they have the same final velocity.
Practice finding the final velocity using conservation of momentum in these problems:

1. A 10 kg medicine ball is thrown at a velocity of 15 m/s to a 50kg skater who is at rest on ice. The skater catches the
ball and subsequently slides with the ball across the ice. Determine the velocity of the medicine ball and the skater
after the skater catches the ball.

1-2 sentences describing what’s going on:

A ball is thrown at a girl on ice and then she catches the ball.

Givens:

Equation(s):

Calculations:

( ) ( ) ( )
()

()

Final answer: [don’t forget your units]

*Worksheet adapted from http://www.physicsclassroom.com/curriculum/momentum/mom5.pdf

2. A large fish with a mass of 1kg is in motion at 45 cm/s when it encounters a smaller fish (m=0.25kg) that is at rest.
The large fish swallows the smaller fish and continues in motion at a reduced speed. Determine the velocity of the
large and the small fish after the collision.

1-2 sentences describing what’s going on:

A larger fish swallows a smaller fish and they both swim off together (the smaller one in the larger one’s stomach).

Givens:

Equation(s):

Calculations:

( ) ( ) ( )
( )

()

Final answer: [don’t forget your units]