Linear momentum and its conservation: past paper questions

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• Question 12May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The diagram shows the view from above of two hard balls rolling along a horizontal table. The balls each have a mass of $0.16\text{ kg}$. The initial velocity of ball P is $5.5\text{ m}{\text{ s}}^{-1}$ and the initial velocity of ball Q is $4.2\text{ m}{\text{ s}}^{-1}$.

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• Question 9Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  In which situation is total linear momentum always conserved?

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• Question 9May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows an object on a horizontal air track moving with velocity $u$ towards a stationary identical object. The objects collide and stick together. The objects then move along the track with velocity $v$.

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• Question 7Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A moving object strikes a stationary object. The collision is inelastic. The objects move off together.

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Two objects move towards each other along the same straight line. After colliding, the two objects stick together and are stationary. Which statement must be correct?

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• Question 9Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What is a statement of the principle of conservation of momentum?

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two train carriages each of mass $5000\text{ kg}$ roll toward one another on a horizontal frictionless track. One is travelling at a speed of $2.00{\text{ m s}}^{-1}$ and the other at a speed of $1.00{\text{ m s}}^{-1}$, as shown. They collide and join together.

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• Question 6May/June 2026, paper 22Structured9 marks

  One of the conclusions from the $\alpha$-particle scattering experiment was that the atom is mostly empty space. State the observation from the experiment that provides evidence for this conclusion.

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows the view from above of two balls moving along a horizontal frictionless surface before they collide. The momentum of each ball is also shown. The balls stick together during the collision.

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Two objects X and Y form an isolated system. X and Y collide and then separate. The mass of X is greater than the mass of Y. Which statement about the collision is correct?

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 23Structured13 marksHas a diagram

  Define momentum.

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• Question 12Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two different blocks, P and Q, slide towards each other on a horizontal frictionless surface. The blocks have an elastic collision. The diagram shows the velocities of the two blocks immediately after the collision.

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row states whether total momentum and total kinetic energy are conserved in an inelastic collision in which there are no external forces?

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• Question 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An object X of mass 0.30 kg is travelling in a straight line at a constant velocity of $3.0{\text{ m s}}^{-1}$ on a horizontal frictionless surface. Object X collides with a stationary object Y of mass 0.50 kg.

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  Compare an $\alpha$‑particle with a ${\beta }^{+}$ particle in terms of their masses and charges.

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• Question 9May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  What is always conserved in elastic collisions?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 23Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  State the principle of conservation of momentum.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Structured6 marksHas a diagram

  A ball on horizontal ground is kicked towards a vertical wall. Fig. 2.1 shows the path of the ball. The ball has an initial velocity $u$ at an angle of ${38}^{\circ }$ to the ground.

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• Question 11May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two blocks K and L slide towards each other along a horizontal frictionless surface. The diagram shows the momentum of the two blocks just before they collide. During the collision, the blocks are in contact with each other for a time of $0.084\text{ s}$.

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• Question 12May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Spheres X and Y form an isolated system. The mass of Y is greater than the mass of X. Sphere Y is initially stationary. Sphere X collides elastically with sphere Y. The speed of sphere X before the collision is $u$.

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• Question 19May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The momentum of a car of mass $m$ increases from $p_1$ to $p_2$. What is the increase in the kinetic energy of the car?

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• Question 10May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two balls, X and Y, approach each other along the same straight line and collide. The collision is perfectly elastic. Their initial speeds are $u_X$ and $u_Y$ respectively.

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• Question 10May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement does not describe an elastic collision between two objects?

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• Question 7May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two satellites in deep space collide inelastically. What happens to the total kinetic energy and total momentum?

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• Question 13May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An empty cart is moving along a horizontal track at a constant velocity. Resistive forces acting on the cart are negligible.

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• Question 8May/June 2023, paper 21Structured5 marks

  An isolated stationary nucleus X decays by emitting an $\alpha$-particle to form a nucleus Y. Nucleus Y and nucleus Z are isotopes of the same element.

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• Question 11May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A nucleus collides with a stationary nucleus in a vacuum. The diagrams show the paths of the nuclei before and after the collision.

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• Question 9May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about a perfectly elastic collision between two objects is correct?

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• Question 3May/June 2023, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A block is pulled by a force $X$ in a straight line along a rough horizontal surface, as shown in Fig. 3.1. Assume that the total resistive force opposing the motion of the block is $0.80\text{ N}$ at all speeds of the block.

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• Question 4May/June 2025, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  A small ball is dropped from rest from height $h_1$ above the ground and falls vertically downwards. The ball collides with the ground and bounces back vertically upwards, reaching a maximum height $h_2$. Fig. 4.1 shows the ball just before and just after hitting the ground.

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