Free AP Physics C lesson

Linear Momentum & Collisions

This AP Physics C: Mechanics lesson is designed for AP Physics C self-study. It includes 3 video lessons, 8 practice questions, and an estimated completion time of 22 minutes.

Video lessons

  1. Momentum Basics

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  2. Types of Collisions

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  3. Types of Collisions (part 2)

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Practice covered

  1. Under what condition is momentum conserved for a system of objects?
  2. Two objects collide. Object A has mass 3 kg and initial velocity 4 m/s to the right. Object B has mass 2 kg and initial velocity 1 m/s to the left. After collision, object A moves at 1 m/s to the right. Find the final velocity of object B (in m/s). Use positive for rightward motion.
  3. A 2 kg ball moving at 3 m/s to the right bounces off a wall and returns at 2 m/s to the left. What is the change in momentum of the ball?
  4. What defines a perfectly inelastic collision?
  5. A 5 kg mass moving at 2 m/s collides and sticks to a 4 kg mass moving at -1 m/s. Calculate the kinetic energy lost (in J) during this perfectly inelastic collision.
  6. In an elastic collision between two objects of equal mass where one is initially at rest, what happens to their velocities after collision?
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