plumiMomentum and collisions: OCR A‑Level Physics B questions
OCR A-Level Physics B past-paper questions on 4.2.6 Momentum and collisions, 2016–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 58 questions on Momentum and collisions, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q15 (1 mark): A stationary thorium-232 nucleus emits an alpha particle. The velocity of the emitted alpha particle is 1.4 × 104 m s–1. No other particles are emitted with the
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q16 (1 mark): In an isolated collision between two air-track gliders, which row of the table correctly describes the conserved quantities? Kinetic energy Momentum A Always co
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q7(a)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the speed of the exhaust gases from the rocket. speed = m s–1 [3]
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q7(c) (6 marks): A model rocket is propelled vertically upwards by a solid fuel rocket engine. Before it is launched the total mass of the rocket and the fuel is 0.500 kg. When
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q24 (1 mark): A ball of mass m falls vertically and hits the horizontal ground with speed v before bouncing vertically upwards with speed 0.8v. What is the change in momentum
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(a) (3 marks): The spacecraft became embedded into Dimorphos upon impact. Calculate the velocity of Dimorphos following the impact. State any assumptions you make. velocity =
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(b) (2 marks): A student attempts to model this collision using an air track (see Fig. 4.2). One of the riders available to use has a mass of 150 g. Fig. 4.2 riders air track
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the maximum initial velocity of the first rider, assuming it comes to rest immediately following the collision. maximum velocity = m s–1 [1]
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(c)(iii) (2 marks): During another collision a 150 g rider collides with a stationary 250 g rider. The 150 g rider recoils with a velocity of 0.23 m s–1 following the impact. Deter
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q24(a) (2 marks): The rocket is stationary and emits a xenon ion. Explain why the rocket accelerates in the direction shown in Fig 24.1. [2]
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q24(b) (3 marks): The mass of 6.0 × 1023 xenon ions is 131 g. Calculate the momentum of a xenon ion emitted at a speed of 40 km s–1. State the units. Momentum = Units = [3]
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q5(b) (2 marks): Fig. 5.1 shows sphere P moving towards sphere Q, which is initially at rest. Fig. 5.1 P Q Sphere P has a mass of 1 kg and sphere Q has a mass of 4 kg. Fig. 5.2
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): 8Ra (radium-224) is an alpha emitter that can be used in radiotherapy. It decays as 8 shown: 22 4 22 6Rn + 4 0 8Ra 2He 8 8 Assuming that the radium nucleus is s
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q9(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the magnitude of the force exerted on the surface. density of water = 1000 kg m–3 force = N [2]
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q9(b)(iv) (4 marks): Describe and explain how the design of the vane increases the power output of the Pelton turbine (see Fig. 7 in the article). [4]
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): A lorry and a truck are in a collision. The mass and speed of each, before the collision, are shown on the diagram. What is the total momentum of the lorry and
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q3(a) (3 marks): Calculate the velocity vB of glider B after the impact. Mass of glider A = 160 g Mass of glider B = 120 g vB = m s–1 [3]
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q3(b) (1 mark): Calculate the mean force exerted on glider B by glider A during the impact. mean force = N [1]
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q15 (1 mark): Two bodies, moving as represented in the diagram, collide and move off together. X Y mass of X = 2.0 kg mass of Y = 1.0 kg velocity of X = 3.0 m s–1 velocity of
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q37(b) (6 marks): Fig. 37.1 shows trollies A and B set up on a friction compensated runway to investigate collisions. repelling trolley B trolley A magnets (stationary (moving) i
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q37(c)(iii) (2 marks): Show that the force on the nozzle is about 700 N. Use 0.020 m3 s–1 is equivalent to 20 kg s–1 for water [2]
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): Which row of the table is correct for an elastic collision? momentum kinetic energy A conserved conserved B conserved not conserved C not conserved conserved D
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): A trolley of mass 500 g is moving at 20 cm s–1 on a linear air track. It collides with an identical stationary trolley. The two trolleys stick together. Calcula
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q23(b) (1 mark): State the change in momentum of the photon. [1]
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q23(c) (2 marks): Explain why there is a force on the solar sail. [2]
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q6(a)(iii) (2 marks): As the rocket fired, 15 kg per second of exhaust gases were ejected each second. Use the answer to (i) to calculate the velocity of the exhaust gases leaving th
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): A 100 g glider travelling at 0.50 m s−1 on an air track collides with an identical stationary glider and 7 sticks to it. Calculate the speed of the two gliders
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q16 (1 mark): The area under a force-time graph represents A distance travelled. B impulse. C power. D work done. Your answer [1]
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): The ball is stationary when the racket first hits it and the ball is in contact with the strings of the racket for 2.0 ms. Show that the mean force that the bal
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q7(c) (6 marks): This question is about the forces and motion of a tennis ball struck by a racket. The following data will be needed in this question: Mass of tennis ball 58.0 g
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q37(a)(iii) (2 marks): Use ideas about momentum to explain why the neutron carries away about 4 5 of this energy. [2]
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the velocity of the two blocks after impact. Ignore the effects of friction. velocity = m s–1 [2]
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): Show that kinetic energy is not conserved in this collision. [2]
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q1(a)(iii) (3 marks): The collision took place over time, ∆t. By calculating the change of momentum of both blocks, show that the force on one block is equal and opposite to the forc
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): A ball of momentum X collides with an identical stationary ball. All of the kinetic energy of the first ball is transferred to the second ball. The change in mo
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): Two moving bodies, X and Y, collide and then move off together. X Y Mass of X = 3.0 kg Mass of Y = 4.0 kg Speed of X = 3.0 m s–1 Speed of Y = 2.0 m s–1 What is
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q37(a)(i) (1 mark): Show that E c has the units of momentum. [1]
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q37(a)(ii) (3 marks): The total photon power of the radiation received from the Sun on a 1.0 m2 area of solar sail is P. 2 P Show that the thrust force T from photon reflection is gi
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q37(b)(i) (2 marks): A positive ion of charge Q and mass m is accelerated through a p.d. V. Show that the p it gains is given by the expression momentum per unit mass m p c m. Q 2 V
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q37(b)(ii) (2 marks): Discuss an advantage of using ions of hydrogen 1H+ as propellant instead of xenon 130Xe+. [2]
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q37(b)(iii) (2 marks): An ion drive with accelerating p.d. V = 2000 V must produce a thrust of 0.24 N. m D is less than 4 # 10−7 kg s−1. Show that the mass flow rate t D Q for 1H+ ion
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q9(a) (2 marks): Show that the change in momentum of the space probe = 2 m (Vm + VM). [2]
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q9(b) (2 marks): The planet has a much greater mass than the space probe. Use the principle of conservation of momentum to describe the effect that the slingshot will have on th
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): A ball of mass 0.12 kg falls vertically from rest and bounces. The collision with the ground is elastic, so kinetic energy is conserved. The duration of the col
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q19 (1 mark): What is the total initial kinetic energy (Ek) and momentum (p) of X and Y? total initial Ek total initial p A 4.5 J 3 N s B 4.5 J 9 N s C 13.5 J 3 N s D 13.5 J
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q20 (1 mark): What is the total final kinetic energy (Ek) and momentum (p) of X and Y, as they move off together? total final Ek total final p A 1.5 J 3 N s B 1.5 J 9 N s C 4
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q4(a) (2 marks): At the start, the gases are ejected at a rate of 47 g s–1 with a speed of 110 m s–1 relative to the rocket and the ground. Show that the rocket exerts a downwar
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q3(b) (4 marks): A sail has an area 8.0 m2. A wind of velocity 18.0 m s–1 strikes the sail at 90° to the surface of the sail. It is assumed that the velocity of the wind falls t
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): A ball, initially at rest, is struck by a hockey stick. It leaves the hockey stick at speed v. Which quantity, together with the mass of the ball, can be used t
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q11 (1 mark): The graph represents the motion of a car stopping in an emergency. The driver takes a short time to react before applying the brakes. momentum P Q time Which st
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q5(c) (1 mark): The light from the laser strikes a surface which absorbs all light falling on it. Calculate the force F that the photons exert on this surface. F = N [1]
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(i) (1 mark): All the values of time are positive but some values of velocity and momentum are positive and some are negative. Explain this difference. [1]
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(ii) (3 marks): Carol says, “These results seem to contradict the law of conservation of momentum.” Evaluate this comment. [3]
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q8(b)(iii) (2 marks): Show that kinetic energy is definitely not conserved in this collision and suggest why this is the case. [2]
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): The graph shows the resultant force on a football as it is kicked. force 0 0 time Which of the following graphs relating to this kick would have the same shape
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q12 (1 mark): Ball P has mass m. Ball Q has mass 2m. Both balls have the same kinetic energy, which is greater than zero. What is the ratio momentum of P momentum of Q ? 1 A
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q26(a) (2 marks): Show that the combined velocity of the lorry and truck just after the collision is greater than 24 m s–1. [2]
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q26(b) (2 marks): Calculate the mean force acting between the lorry and truck during the collision which lasts 20 ms. mean force = N [2]
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