CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter 6
Exam-style questions i  In an elastic collision, both momentum
7 a 
and kinetic energy are conserved.[1]
1 C[1]
ii In an inelastic collision, momentum is
2 B[1] conserved but not kinetic energy.[1]
3 D[1]
b c hange in momentum =
4 T
 he law of conservation of momentum momentum after − momentum before[1]
applies if the Earth is considered to rise as = 0.35 × 2.5 − 0.35 × (−2.8) =
the ball falls. The momentum of the Earth 1.855 kg m s−1 ≈ 1.9 kg m s−1[1]
upwards equals the momentum of the ball
downwards.[1] c  hen the table (plus the Earth) is also
W
considered, then the initial momentum of
 he weight of the ball has an equal and
T
the ball is equal to the final momentum
upwards force on the Earth due to Newton’s
of the ball added to the momentum of
third law.[1]
the snooker table, and so momentum is
5 a  momentum of ball before striking wall conserved.[1]
= mass × velocity = 2 × 3.0 = 6.0 kg m s−1
towards the ball[1] change in momentum =
8 a 
mass × change in velocity[1]
momentum after striking the wall
= 6.0 kg m s−1 away from the wall[1]  = 1100 × (−24) = −26 400 N s ≈
−26 000 N s[1]
change in momentum of ball = 12 kg m s−1
away from the wall[1] change in momentum
b force = [1]
time
b T
 here is no change in kinetic energy as the 26 400
ball’s speed and mass are unchanged.[1] = = 1320 N ≈ 1300 N[1]
20
linear momentum = mass × velocity[1]
6 a  c average speed during braking = 12 m s−1[1]

b [units of mass] × [units of velocity] = so, distance travelled in 20 s = 12 × 20 =

kg m s−1[1] 240 m[1]
momentum = mass × velocity[1]
9 a 
Using v2 = 2as,
c 
= 0.10 × 0.40 = 0.040 kg m s−1[1]
v = ( 2 × 3.5 × 40 ) = 280 = 16.7 m s−1[1]
b F
 or each marble, component of
so, momentum = mass × speed
momentum in x-direction = half of
= 900 × 16.7, so momentum
original momentum = 0.020 kg m s−1[1]
= 1.5 × 104 kg m s−1[1]
0.020
so, momentum of one marble = cos 45°
d c ombined momentum to left
= 0.0283 kg m s [1]
−1
= 3.0 × 4.0 − 2.0 × 4.0 = 4.0 kg m s−1[1]
and velocity = 00.0283
.10
= 0.283 m s−1 ≈
combined mass = 8.0 kg[1] 0.28 m s [1]
−1

so, velocity after collision

c k.e. before = 12 mv2 = 12 × 0.10 × 0.402 =
4.0
= = 0.50 m s−1 to the left[1] 0.0080 J[1]
8.0
k.e. after = 2 ×  12 × 0.10 × 0.2832 = 0.0080 J
[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

initial momentum of ball = 0.16 × 25

10 a  b i 
Momentum is conserved, as there
= 4.0 kg m s−1[1] are no external forces / the system
change in momentum = 4.0 − (−4.0)
 is closed.[1]
= 8.0 kg m s−1[1] Momentum of alpha-particle in one
change in momentum 8 direction must equal that of uranium
b force = = 0.003 [1]
time nucleus in the exactly opposite
= 2667 N ≈ 2700 N direction for the change to be zero.[1]
(This is the force on the ball but is equal ii 6.65 × 10−27 × vα + 3.89 × 10−25 × vx = 0
and opposite to the force on the bat.)[1] [1]
va
c The bat slows down.[1] iii  = −58.5 ≈ −58 or −59[1]
vx
The law of conservation of momentum 13 a 
Momentum and kinetic energy[1]
requires that the change in momentum
of the ball and of the bat are equal but in momentum = 0.014 × 640 = 8.96 or
b i 
opposite directions.[1] momentum ≈ 9.0 kg m s−1[1]
Energy is neither created nor destroyed, ii Bullets leave with momentum forwards
but thermal energy (heat/internal energy) and gun has equal momentum
and sound are created from the drop in backwards.[1]
k.e. (of the bat).[1] To stop motion/momentum of the gun,
The impact is non-elastic.[1] the soldier must provide a force.[1]
11 a 
The total momentum before the collision ∆p
iii F = ; 140 = n × 8.96[1]
is equal to the total momentum after the ∆t
interaction.[1] number of bullets per second = 15.6 or
15 or 16[1]
The system is closed or there are no
external forces acting.[1] 14 a

final momentum = initial momentum

b i  Change in Initial Final
0.35v = 0.25 × 30[1] momentum / kinetic kinetic
kg m s−1 energy / J energy / J
v = 21.4 ≈ 21 m s−1[1]
truck X 6.0 × 104 2.5 × 105 4.0 × 104
ii change in momentum
= 0.25 × 30 − 0.25 × 21.4[1] truck Y 6.0 × 104 1.5 × 104 1.35 × 105

change in momentum = 2.14 ≈ One mark for each correct change in

2.1 kg m s−1 or 2.15 ≈ 2.2 kg m s−1[1] momentum[2]
One mark for correct kinetic energy
iii change in total kinetic energy = 1
2 values for X[2]
× 0.25 × 302 −  12 × 0.35 × 21.42[1] One mark for correct kinetic energy
change in total k.e. = 32.4 ≈ 32 J[1] values for Y.[2]
iv The arrow stops and the ball moves b t otal initial k.e. = 2.65 × 105 J and total
off with a speed of 30 m s−1[1] final k.e. = 1.75 × 105 J[1]
Relative speed remains unaltered in Collision is not elastic, because the total
an elastic collision, 30 m s−1[1] k.e. has decreased in the collision[1]
∆p 6.0 × 10 4
i   The total kinetic energy before the
12 a  c force = = [1]
collision is equal to the total kinetic ∆t 1.6
energy after the collision.[1] 3.75 × 104 ≈ 3.7 or 3.8 × 104 N[1]
ii In a completely inelastic collision, the
maximum amount of kinetic energy is
lost (subject to the law of conservation
of momentum, which must be
obeyed).[1]

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
2 © Cambridge University Press 2020