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Momentum Questions

Q1. The diagram below represents part of an experiment that is being used to estimate the speed of an air gun pellet. The pellet, which is moving parallel to the track, strikes the block, embedding itself. The trolley and the block then move along the track, rising a vertical height, h .

 

(a) Using energy considerations explain how the speed of the trolley and block immediately after it has been struck by the pellet, may be determined from measurements of h . Assume frictional forces are negligible.

(3 marks)

(b) The following data is collected from the experiment:

mass of trolley and block = 0.50 kg

mass of pellet = 0.0020 kg

speed of trolley and block immediately after impact = 0.40ms-1

Calculate

(i) the momentum of the trolley and block immediately after impact,

(ii) the speed of the pellet just before impact.

(4 marks)

(c)

(i) State what is meant by an inelastic collision.

(ii) Use the data from part (b) to show that the collision between the pellet and block is inelastic.

(4 marks)

(Total 11 marks)