Edexcel A2 Physics

Questions and answers

1.1.1 Momentum

[QB]Questions 1 What is the momentum of: a b a plane of mass 2 <mult> 105#kg flying at 270#m#s1? a horse of mass of 400#kg carrying a rider of mass 75#kg, galloping at 10#m#s1?

2 In the worked example above, it was estimated that a cricket batsman might need to use 80#N to stop a ball dead. a Explain why a batsman hitting a ball so that it travels away at the same speed might need less than 80#N force to play his shot. b shot. 3 An 800#kg car is travelling at 33#m#s1. How much force must the brakes apply, if they are to stop the car completely in four seconds? 4 In a car crash, a passenger with a mass of 82#kg is not wearing a seatbelt. The car is travelling at 45#km#h1. What impulse must the cars airbag provide in order to stop the passengers motion? 5 Explain why hitting an airbag will cause less injury than if a passenger hits the dashboard. A wooden mallet is being used to hammer a tent peg into hard ground. [Edexcel exam question]6 [aw 1.1.5 here] [FCAP]fig. 1.1.5 a The head of the mallet is a cylinder of diameter 0.100#m and length 0.196#m. The density of the wood is 750#kg#m 3. Show that the mass of the head is approximately 1.2# kg. b The head strikes the tent peg as shown at a speed of 4.20#m#s 1 and rebounds at 0.58#m#s 1. Calculate the magnitude of its momentum change in the collision. c The head is in contact with the peg for 0.012#s. Estimate the average force exerted on the peg by the head during this period. d Give a reason why your value for the force will only be approximate. e With reference to your calculations above, discuss whether a mallet with a rubber head of the same mass would be more or less effective for hammering in tent pegs. [/QB]

Explain why the same batsman playing the same ball might need more than 80#N force to play a

Edexcel A2 Physics
Questions and answers
[ST] Answers 1)a) 5.4 x 107 kg m s-1 b) 4750 kg m s-1 2)a) If the batsman only changed the balls direction very slightly, this is a smaller momentum change than in the worked example, so less force would be needed. b) If the ball is returned back in the direction of the bowler, this would be a greater momentum change than in the worked example, so more force would be needed. 3) 6600 N 4) a)1025 N s b) The airbag takes a longer time to remove the passengers momentum. This means that it applies less force to the passenger, reducing injury.
5) a) Mass = 1.15 kg 1 b) p = 5.50 or 5.74 kg m s /N s c) F = 458 or 478 N depending on p above] d) Handle mass/weight/ head weight/force exerted by user (handle) neglected e) t goes up/p goes up less force, less effective/more force, more effective