Momentum — AS & A Level Mathematics (9709) questions by topic

Applying conservation of momentum to two particles colliding on a smooth horizontal plane, finding an unknown speed after a collision given the masses involved, and analysing a hammerhead driving a nail into wood are typical of the 9 momentum questions from 2023 to 2025, worth 3 to 11 marks.

Find, calculate and show are the only three command words tracked here, each built on setting up a momentum-conservation equation correctly before solving for an unknown. Because a sign error on direction is the most common way to lose marks in a collision problem, submit your momentum equations for instant marking to catch a wrongly signed velocity the instant it is written, rather than after the whole collision equation fails to balance.

May–June 2025, Paper 42

Question 2 · 4 marks

Two particles P and Q, of masses 0.2 kg and 0.1 kg respectively, are free to move in a straight line on a smooth horizontal plane. P is projected towards Q with speed 5 m s^-1. At…

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May–June 2025, Paper 43

Question 1 · 5 marks

Two particles P and Q, of masses 0.1 kg and 0.3 kg respectively, are at rest on a smooth horizontal plane. P is projected directly towards Q with speed 4u m s^-1. At the same…

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May–June 2025, Paper 45

Question 2 · 5 marks

A machine for driving a nail into a block of wood causes a hammerhead to drop vertically onto the top of the nail. The mass of the hammerhead is 1.5 kg and the mass of the nail is…

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May–June 2024, Paper 42

Question 6 · 11 marks

Three particles A, B and C of masses 5 kg, 1 kg and 2 kg respectively lie at rest in that order on a straight smooth horizontal track XYZ. Initially A is at X, B is at Y and C is…

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May–June 2024, Paper 43

Question 1 · 3 marks

Two particles P and Q of masses 0.2 kg and 0.5 kg respectively are at rest on a smooth horizontal plane. Particle P is projected with a speed 6 m s⁻¹ directly towards Q. After P…

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May–June 2023, Paper 41

Question 1 · 4 marks

Two particles P and Q, of masses m kg and 0.3 kg respectively, are at rest on a smooth horizontal plane. P is projected at a speed of 5 m s⁻¹ directly towards Q. After P and Q…

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May–June 2023, Paper 42

Question 2 · 4 marks

Two particles A and B, of masses 3.2 kg and 2.4 kg respectively, lie on a smooth horizontal table. A moves towards B with a speed of v m s^-1 and collides with B, which is moving…

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May–June 2023, Paper 43

Question 1 · 3 marks

Two particles P and Q, of masses 0.1 kg and 0.4 kg respectively, are free to move on a smooth horizontal plane. Particle P is projected with speed 4 m s⁻¹ towards Q which is…

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October–November 2023, Paper 43

Question 2 · 5 marks

A machine for driving a nail into a block of wood causes a hammerhead to drop vertically onto the top of a nail. The mass of the hammerhead is 1.2 kg and the mass of the nail is…

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