Sir Zaheer's Academy

AS-Level Physics Test Marks = 40

Name:___________________________________________

1 A particle of mass m strikes a vertical rigid wall perpendicularly from the left with velocity v.

v rigid wall
m

If the collision is perfectly elastic, the total change in momentum of the particle that occurs as a
result of the collision is
A 2mv to the right.
B 2mv to the left.
C mv to the right.
D mv to the left.

2 Two spheres A and B approach each other along the same straight line with speeds u A and uB.
The spheres collide and move off with speeds vA and vB, both in the same direction as the initial
direction of sphere A, as shown below.
uA uB
Which equation applies to an elastic collision? before collision
A uA + uB = vB – vA
A B
B uA – uB = vB – vA
C uA – uB = vB + vA after collision
vA vB
D uA + uB = vB + vA
–1
3 An object of mass 4.0 kg moving with a speed of 3.0 m s strikes a stationary object in an
inelastic collision.
Which statement is correct?
A After collision, the total kinetic energy is 18 J.
B After collision, the total kinetic energy is less than 18 J.
C Before collision, the total kinetic energy is 12 J.
D Before collision, the total kinetic energy is less than 12 J.

4 Two equal masses travel towards each other on a frictionless air track at speeds of 60 cm s–1 and
30 cm s–1. They stick together on impact.
60 cm s–1 30 cm s–1

What is the speed of the masses after impact?

A 15 cm s–1 B 20 cm s–1 C 30 cm s–1 D 45 cm s–1
 5 (a) Show that the kinetic energy E k of a mass m is related to its momentum p by the equation
p2
Ek = .
2m
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[1]
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(b) Francium-208 is radioactive and emits α-particles with a kinetic energy of 1.07 × 10–12 J to
form nuclei of astatine, as illustrated in Fig. 3.1.

Hint:-

1am u = 1.67 x 10
–27
Kg francium nucleus
before decay
astatine
nucleus
- particle = Helium - 4
a statine nucleas = Astatine - 204

- particle

Fig. 3.1
Show that the initial speed of an α-particle after the decay of a francium nucleus is
approximately 1.8 × 107 m s–1.

[2]
(c) (i) State the principle of conservation of linear momentum.

...................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................. [1]
(ii) The Francium-208 nucleus is stationary before the decay. Estimate the speed of
the astatine nucleus immediately after the decay.

speed = ………………………… m s–1 [3]

6 A steel ball of mass 73 g is held 1.6 m above a horizontal steel plate, as illustrated in Fig. 4.1.
steel ball
mass 73 g

1.6 m

steel
plate

Fig. 4.1

The ball is dropped from rest and it bounces on the plate, reaching a height h.
(a) Calculate the speed of the ball as it reaches the plate.

speed = .......................................... m s–1 [2]

(b) As the ball loses contact with the plate after bouncing, the kinetic energy of the ball is
90% of that just before bouncing. Calculate

(i) the speed of the ball as it leaves the plate after bouncing.

speed = .......................................... m s–1

(ii) the height h to which the ball bounces,

h = ............................................... m [4]
 (c) Using your answers to (a) and (b), determine the change in momentum of the ball
during the bounce.

change = ............................................. N s [2]

(d) With reference to the law of conservation of momentum, comment on your answer
to (c).

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................[3]

7 A ball B of mass 1.2 kg travelling at constant velocity collides head-on with a stationary ball S
of mass 3.6 kg, as shown in Fig. 2.1.
v

ball B ball S

mass 1.2 kg mass 3.6 kg

Fig. 2.1
Frictional forces are negligible.
The variation with time t of the velocity v of ball B before, during and after colliding with ball S
is shown in Fig. 2.2.

+4

+3
v / m s–1
+2

+1

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 t/s
–1

–2

Fig. 2.2
 (a) State the significance of positive and negative values for v in Fig. 2.2.

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Use Fig. 2.2 to determine, for ball B during the collision with ball S,
(i) the change in momentum of ball B,

change in momentum = .......................................... N s [3]

(ii) the magnitude of the force acting on ball B.

force = ............................................. N [3]

(c) Calculate the speed of ball S after the collision.

speed = ....................................... m s–1 [2]

8 On a straight horizontal test track, driverless vehicles (with no passengers) are being tested. A car of
mass 1600 kg is towing a trailer of mass 700 kg along the track. The brakes are applied, resulting in
a deceleration of 12 m s−2 . The braking force acts on the car only. In addition to the braking force
there are constant resistance forces of 600 N on the car and of 200 N on the trailer.
(a) Find the magnitude of the force in the tow-bar. [2] . (b) Find the braking force. [2]
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(c) At the instant when the brakes are applied, the car has speed 22 m s−1 . At this instant the car is
17.5 m away from a stationary van, which is directly in front of the car.
Show that the car hits the van at a speed of 8 m s−1 . [2]

(d) After the collision, the van starts to move with speed 5 m s−1 and the car and trailer continue
moving in the same direction with speed 2 m s−1 .
Find the mass of the van. [3]