| Exam Board | Edexcel |
|---|---|
| Module | M1 (Mechanics 1) |
| Year | 2003 |
| Session | January |
| Marks | 5 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Mark scheme | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Momentum and Collisions |
| Type | Direct collision, find impulse magnitude |
| Difficulty | Moderate -0.8 This is a straightforward application of conservation of momentum and impulse definition with clearly stated values. Part (a) requires one equation with one unknown, and part (b) is a direct calculation using impulse = change in momentum. Both are standard textbook exercises requiring only recall and substitution into formulas, making this easier than average for A-level. |
| Spec | 6.03b Conservation of momentum: 1D two particles6.03e Impulse: by a force6.03f Impulse-momentum: relation |
A railway truck $P$ of mass 2000 kg is moving along a straight horizontal track with speed 10 m s$^{-1}$. The truck $P$ collides with a truck $Q$ of mass 3000 kg, which is at rest on the same track. Immediately after the collision $Q$ moves with speed 5 m s$^{-1}$. Calculate
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item the speed of $P$ immediately after the collision, [3]
\item the magnitude of the impulse exerted by $P$ on $Q$ during the collision. [2]
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel M1 2003 Q1 [5]}}