CAIE IGCSE Physics 1.6.3 Apply the Principle of the Questions
Practise applying conservation of momentum to collisions, explosions and recoil situations with CAIE IGCSE Physics questions and mark schemes.
- Syllabus
- 2026–2028
- Course
- Physics 0625
Practise applying conservation of momentum to collisions, explosions and recoil situations with CAIE IGCSE Physics questions and mark schemes.
Fig. 2.1 shows two identical trolleys, P and Q, held at rest on a frictionless horizontal surface. A load is fixed to trolley P .
Fig. 2.1
There is a compressed spring between trolley P and trolley Q .
The trolleys are released. As the spring expands, it pushes the trolleys apart.
Trolley Q moves to the right at a constant speed of 0.36 m/s.
The mass of each trolley is 1.2 kg . The mass of the load on trolley P is 1.5 kg .
The spring has negligible mass.
Calculate:
the speed at which trolley P moves to the left
speed of P=
0.16 m/s
conservation of momentum OR mPvP=mQvQ OR 2.7×vP=1.2×0.36 OR (mQvQ=)0.432 seen
(vP=)mQvQ/mP OR 1.2×0.36/2.7