College Board · AP Physics 1

AP Physics 1: Linear momentum — Practice Questions & Answers

Momentum, impulse, and conservation across elastic, inelastic, and 2D collisions, plus center-of-mass motion.

325 practice questions available for this unit — here are 10 with full answers and explanations.

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Practice questions with answers

1 Multiple choice · Easy

A 2.0 kg cart moves to the right at 3.0 m/s. What is the magnitude of its linear momentum?

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WhyMomentum p = m*v = 2.0 kg * 3.0 m/s = 6.0 kg m/s.
2 Multiple choice · Easy

Which of the following is the correct SI unit for impulse?

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WhyImpulse equals force times time, so its unit is N s, which is equivalent to kg m/s.
3 Multiple choice · Easy

A constant force of 5.0 N acts on an object for 4.0 s. What is the magnitude of the impulse delivered?

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WhyImpulse J = F*t = 5.0 N * 4.0 s = 20 N s.
4 Multiple choice · Easy

In a perfectly inelastic collision between two objects, what happens immediately after the collision?

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WhyIn a perfectly inelastic collision the objects stick together and move with a common velocity.
5 Multiple choice · Easy

Which quantity is always conserved in an isolated system with no external forces?

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WhyTotal linear momentum is conserved whenever the net external force on the system is zero.
6 Fill in the blank · Easy

The impulse-momentum theorem states that the net impulse on an object equals its change in .

Answer: momentum / linear momentum

WhyThe net impulse delivered to an object equals the change in its momentum: J = delta p.
7 Multiple choice · Medium

A 0.15 kg ball moving at 20 m/s is caught and brought to rest in 0.10 s. What is the average force exerted on the ball?

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Whydelta p = m*delta v = 0.15*(0-20) = -3.0 kg m/s. F = delta p / t = -3.0/0.10 = -30 N, magnitude 30 N.
8 Multiple choice · Medium

A 1.0 kg cart at 4.0 m/s collides and sticks to a stationary 3.0 kg cart. What is their common speed after the collision?

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WhyConservation of momentum: (1.0*4.0)/(1.0+3.0) = 4.0/4.0 = 1.0 m/s.
9 Multiple choice · Medium

A 0.50 kg ball hits a wall at 6.0 m/s and rebounds at 4.0 m/s in the opposite direction. What is the magnitude of the change in its momentum?

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WhyTaking initial as +, delta p = m*(vf - vi) = 0.50*(-4.0 - 6.0) = -5.0 kg m/s, magnitude 5.0 kg m/s.
10 Multiple choice · Medium

Two equal-mass objects approach each other with equal and opposite momenta and collide head-on. What is the total momentum of the system just after the collision?

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WhyThe total momentum before is zero, so by conservation the total momentum after is also zero regardless of collision type.

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Key terms in Linear momentum

Linear momentum: A vector quantity equal to the product of an object's mass and its velocity, measured in kg m/s.
Momentum (p): The symbol and quantity p = mv that describes how much motion an object carries and how hard it is to stop.
Mass: The scalar measure of an object's inertia, used in momentum as the multiplier of velocity, measured in kg.
Velocity: The vector rate of change of position whose magnitude and direction set the direction of an object's momentum, measured in m/s.
Vector quantity: A physical quantity such as momentum that has both magnitude and direction and adds according to vector rules.
Magnitude of momentum: The size of the momentum vector, equal to mass times speed, ignoring direction.
Direction of momentum: The orientation of the momentum vector, which always points the same way as the object's velocity.
Component of momentum: The projection of a momentum vector onto a chosen axis, treated independently along x and y directions.

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