AP Physics 1 · Unit 4 · Momentum

Momentum and Impulse Practice Problems

Connect momentum vectors with the force acting over time. Practice vertical throws, force pulses, glancing rebounds, impact buffers, and a puck struck back in the opposite direction.

12 questions6 conceptual · 6 calculation

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Simulation scene from the Momentum and Impulse lesson. — A scene from the related lesson. Open the practice to work through the questions.

What you’ll practice

Follow momentum through a push or impact

Keep the direction in momentum

Use mass and velocity to calculate momentum components. Compare the highest point of a throw with its rising and falling passes through one height.

Read impulse from force and time

Find area under a force–time curve, including regions below the time axis. Add the net impulse to the initial momentum to find the final velocity.

Analyze rebounds and stopping forces

Resolve a glancing collision perpendicular and parallel to a wall. Connect a stopping distance or a short contact interval with the average force.

A question from this set

The same velocity with more mass

Two survey carts move right at the same velocity. Cart B has twice the mass of cart A. How does B’s momentum compare with A’s?

Its momentum is twice as large and points in the same direction.
Its momentum is the same because their velocities match.
Its momentum is four times as large because mass is squared.

Try it in the practice set

The two carts have the same velocity; the second has twice the mass.

Key ideas

Use the change in momentum over the whole interval

Momentum includes velocity direction

For a constant mass, p = mv and Δp = m(vf − vi). Reversing motion can produce a large momentum change even when the speed is unchanged.

Net impulse is the momentum change

The area under the net force–time curve gives impulse. A longer stopping interval reduces average force when the required momentum change stays the same. Regions below the time axis contribute negatively.

See the physics

Compare force pulses with recorded momentum

After checking your answer or calculation parts, run the prepared scene. Compare impulse with the measured momentum change, switch pulse or stopping trials, and inspect recorded momentum–time graphs. Short contact intervals use milliseconds on the graph.

Use a hint for a starting point or open a worked solution to follow the reasoning. Your progress saves in this browser, so you can return to unfinished questions.

Ready for momentum and impulse?

Begin with a conceptual question, then work through the calculations.

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