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1 markConservation of Energy

CAPE Physics Unit 1 · May/June 2025 · Paper 2 · Question 1(b)(iii)

A ball of mass m1 = 0.250 kg moving at u1 = 5.00 m s⁻¹ collides head-on with a stationary ball of mass m2 = 0.800 kg (u2 = 0 m s⁻¹). After collision, m1 moves with v1 = -2.62 m s⁻¹, and m2 moves with velocity v2.

Write an expression for the total kinetic energy of the system before the collision.

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Other parts of this question

  1. 1(a)(i)State, in words, Newton's second law of motion.[2 marks]
  2. 1(a)(ii)State the principle of conservation of linear momentum.[2 marks]
  3. 1(a)(iii)Differentiate between a 'perfectly elastic collision' and an 'inelastic collision'.[2 marks]
  4. 1(a)(iv)Explain what is meant by the 'impulse of a force'.[2 marks]
  5. 1(b)(i)Write an expression for the total momentum of the system before the collision.[1 mark]
  6. 1(b)(ii)Write an expression for the total momentum of the system after the collision.[1 mark]
  7. 1(b)(iv)Write an expression for the total kinetic energy of the system after the collision.[1 mark]
  8. 1(c)(i)Calculate the velocity, v2, of the larger ball after the collision.[4 marks]
  9. 1(c)(ii)Determine whether the collision is perfectly elastic or inelastic.[5 marks]
  10. 1(d)(i)State Newton's third law of motion.[2 marks]
  11. 1(d)(ii)Sketch a diagram to show ALL the forces acting on the object.[3 marks]
  12. 1(d)(iii)Sketch a diagram to show ALL the forces acting on the inclined plane.[2 marks]
  13. 1(d)(iv)Calculate the acceleration of the object as it moves down the inclined plane.[2 marks]

More practice: the rest of this paper · more Conservation of Energy questions · all CAPE Physics Unit 1 past papers