| Exam Board | Edexcel |
|---|---|
| Module | M1 (Mechanics 1) |
| 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 conservation of momentum problem with clearly defined masses and velocities. Part (a) requires a single application of momentum conservation to find v, and part (b) is a direct impulse calculation using the change in momentum. Both parts are standard M1 exercises requiring only routine application of formulas with no problem-solving insight needed. |
| Spec | 6.03b Conservation of momentum: 1D two particles6.03f Impulse-momentum: relation |
| Answer | Marks |
|---|---|
| cons. of mom. \(5(3) = 5(v) + 2(2v)\) → \(15 = 9v\) so \(v = \frac{5}{3}\) | M2 A1 |
| Answer | Marks | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| impulse received by \(Q = 2[(2 \times \frac{5}{3}) - 0] = \frac{20}{3}\) Ns | M1 A1 | (5) |
**Part (a):**
cons. of mom. $5(3) = 5(v) + 2(2v)$ → $15 = 9v$ so $v = \frac{5}{3}$ | M2 A1 |
**Part (b):**
impulse received by $Q = 2[(2 \times \frac{5}{3}) - 0] = \frac{20}{3}$ Ns | M1 A1 | (5)
---A particle, $P$, of mass 5 kg moves with speed 3 m s$^{-1}$ along a smooth horizontal track. It strikes a particle $Q$ of mass 2 kg which is at rest on the track. Immediately after the collision, $P$ and $Q$ move in the same direction with speeds $v$ and 2v m s$^{-1}$ respectively.
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Calculate the value of $v$. [3 marks]
\item Calculate the magnitude of the impulse received by $Q$ on impact. [2 marks]
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel M1 Q1 [5]}}