Further Mechanics 1 Unit Test 1: Momentum and impulse

1 A snooker player strikes the white ball, which begins at rest, directly with her cue so
that the cue makes contact with the ball to apply a simple, constant, forward force of
5 N for a time of 0.4 seconds.
a Calculate the impulse exerted on the ball by the cue, and state the units of this
value. (2 marks)
A snooker player says that if you divide the impulse on the ball by the cue by the
mass of the ball, you will get the initial speed of the ball, regardless of the force
applied to the ball or the length of time it was applied for.
b Using F = ma and v = u + at as a starting point, prove that the snooker player is
correct. (3 marks)
The ball moves across the table, in a straight line in the direction in which it was
struck, at 8 m s−1.
c Find the mass of the ball and state its momentum in kg m s−1. (2 marks)

2 In a game of marbles, two glass spheres, one of mass 20 g and the other of mass
50 g, are projected towards each other along the same line, travelling with constant
speeds 0.5 m s−1and 0.6 m s−1 respectively, so that they collide head-on. Immediately
after the collision the speed of the heavier marble is halved, but its direction of
motion is unchanged.
a Find the speed and the direction of travel of the lighter marble immediately after
the collision. (4 marks)
b Find the magnitude of the impulse given by the heavier marble to the lighter
marble in the collision. (2 marks)
c State one modelling assumption that has been made in your solution to this
problem. (1 mark)

3 Two toy cars are connected by a light inextensible string which is 10 cm long. The
cars are not the same. One has mass m kg and the other is 25 g heavier. Initially both
toys are stationary and the connecting string is completely slack.
The lighter car is propelled away from the heavier car in a straight line, on a smooth
surface, at a constant speed of 0.8 m s−1. As soon as the string becomes taut, the
heavier car is jerked forward along the same line of motion so that it moves at a
constant speed of v m s−1. At this same instant the impulse of the string on the lighter
car brings it to instantaneous rest.
a Express v in terms of m. (4 marks)
As soon as the heavier car begins to move it experiences a constant resistant force to
its motion of 20 N so that it quickly comes to rest.
b Given that the heavier car stops the instant before it collides with the lighter car,
find an inequality for m, the mass of the lighter car. Give your answer correct to
3 significant figures. (4 marks)

© Pearson Education Ltd 2018. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free. 1
 Further Mechanics 1 Unit Test 1: Momentum and impulse

4 A ball of mass 100 g is thrown vertically upwards with initial speed of 7 m s−1 so
that it collides with an apple hanging from a tree. The apple has a mass of 250 g and
hangs 1.8 m above the point from which the ball was thrown. During the collision
the ball remains in contact with the apple for 0.8 seconds then, due to the collision,
changes its direction and has an immediate downward speed of 1 m s−1. The apple
will break from the tree and fall freely to the ground if it is struck with a force of
more than 0.5 N.
a Deduce whether the ball thrown as described above will dislodge the apple from
the tree. (4 marks)
Immediately after the collision the apple will move a distance x cm vertically
upwards due to the impulse given to the apple by the ball, before falling back again
due to gravity.
b Find x to 2 significant figures. (4 marks)

5 A gas particle of mass 3 × 10−6 kg is moving with velocity ((t2 − 7t)i + 2j) m s−1.
When t = 8 seconds it instantaneously collides directly with a second particle of the
same mass but moving with constant velocity (4i + j) m s−1. At the point of collision,
the two particles coalesce and this new larger particle begins to move immediately
after impact with constant velocity v.
a Find the speed of the new larger gas particle immediately after the collision. (4 marks)
b A third gas particle has velocity (2i − 3j) m s−1. Find the angle between the
directions of motion of this third particle and the new larger particle. (5 marks)

6 A ball of mass 200 g is propelled from rest, from position vector r = (2i + j) m, so
that it rolls with constant velocity v = (3i + 4j) m s−1. The surface on which the ball
rolls is assumed to offer no resistance to its motion. After 3 seconds this ball reaches
a player holding a bat.
The player immediately strikes the ball with the bat, which causes the ball to change
its velocity such that the ball rolls along the floor at an exact constant speed of
5 2 m s−1 and collides with a skittle which is at position vector r s = (15i + 9j) m.
a Find, in vector form, the impulse given to the ball by the bat. (6 marks)
The mass of the skittle is 1 kg. The base of the skittle is such that the skittle will
resist motion with a force due to friction. When the ball in part a collides with the
skittle the collision lasts 0.8 seconds. Directly after impact the ball moves with
velocity (−2i + 2j) m s−1. The maximum possible force due to friction is just enough
to cause the skittle to remain at rest.
b Find the coefficient of friction, μ, between the skittle and the floor. (5 marks)

© Pearson Education Ltd 2018. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free. 2