Momentum: past paper questions
Real questions on momentum
The newest 20 of 60 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0625/32 · May/June 2026 · Q4a(ii)[3]
A craftsman pours the liquid metal into a mould, as shown in Figure 4.1. The metal cools until it is solid. liquid metal mould Figure 4.1 Describe the arrangement, separation and motion of the particles in a solid.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2026 · Q4a[1]
Define ‘impulse’ in words.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2026 · Q4b(i)[2]
Calculate the resultant force exerted on the student as she stops moving. resultant force = N The student stops moving 0.95 s after her feet first touch the ground. (i)
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2026 · Q4b(ii)[3]
As the student lands, she bends her knees. Explain how this prevents the student from being injured. Use ideas about force, momentum and time in your answer.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · February/March 2026 · Q2b(i)[2]
Calculate the force which causes this acceleration. force = N
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · February/March 2026 · Q2b(ii)[2]
Explain why the force provided by the ship’s engine must be larger than the value in 2(b)(i).
See it on the paper → - 0625/31 · October/November 2025 · Q3b(i)[2]
Determine the length of the spring when the load attached to the spring is 7.0 N. Show your working on Fig. 3.2. length of spring = cm
See it on the paper → - 0625/33 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[3]
A builder uses a metal bar to raise one end of the rock. builder rock metal bar 320 N pivot 1.2 m Fig. 2.1 (not to scale) Calculate the moment of the 320 N force about the pivot. moment = Nm 2
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(ii)[2]
Calculate the momentum of the tennis ball as it leaves the tennis player’s hand. (ii) momentum =
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[3]
The player’s hands are in contact with the moving ball for 9.7 ms. Calculate the horizontal force exerted by her hands to bring the ball to rest. force =
See it on the paper → - 0625/41 · May/June 2025 · Q1a[1]
Circle the vector quantities in the list.
See it on the paper → - 0625/41 · May/June 2025 · Q2a(i)[2]
State two different changes to the motion that the resultant force may cause. (i)
See it on the paper → - 0625/41 · May/June 2025 · Q3b(ii)[3]
The skateboarder falls off the skateboard at B. She hits the track and comes to rest after a few milliseconds. State the equation that defines the force F with which the skateboarder hits the track. State the meaning of any symbols you use.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2025 · Q3a[1]
Define momentum.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2025 · Q3b[7]
Fig. 3.1 shows two toy trains, A and B, on a track. train A train B Fig. 3.1 The mass of train A is 0.45 kg and the mass of train B is 0.21 kg. The trains do not have motors. Train A travels towards train B and they collide. The trains stick together when they collide. Calculate the velocity of the trains immediately a...
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · May/June 2025 · Q2a[1]
Show that the momentum of the space vehicle is approximately 6.55 × 10 6 kg m / s.
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · May/June 2025 · Q2b[5]
The capsule ejects the nose cone, as shown in Fig. 2.2. v 7850 m / s mass = 120 kg mass = 720 kg Fig. 2.2 (not to scale) Determine the velocity v of the capsule after the nose cone is ejected. Give your answer to 3 significant figures.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · February/March 2025 · Q2a[1]
State the momentum of trolley B before the collision. Explain your answer. explanation statement
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · February/March 2025 · Q2b[3]
After the collision, the two trolleys are joined together and travel with a constant velocity v = 0.18 m / s to the right. The mass of trolley A is 0.75 kg. Calculate the mass of trolley B. mass of trolley B =
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · February/March 2025 · Q2c(i)[2]
The trolleys move onto a rough surface which exerts a constant force F on the trolleys and brings them to rest in 2.6 s. Calculate F. F =
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Comprehensive responses • Most candidates substituted the data provided into the equation F = ma to calculate the force which causes the acceleration of the ship. Limited responses • A few candidates were unable to recall the equation relating Force and acceleration. These responses usually went on to divide mass by acceleration. • A few candidates were not always successful when working with num...
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 0625/42 Q2(b)(i) (Cambridge)
Comprehensive responses • Some responses identified a suitable resistive force and described this as opposing the ship’s motion. • Some candidates identified the force in (b)(i) as the resultant force and explained that the engine force must be larger than that because there are also resistive forces. Limited responses • A few candidates were confused about the meaning of the term resultant force...
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 0625/42 Q2(b)(ii) (Cambridge)
Many candidates correctly identified the two vector quantities in the list: acceleration and velocity. Some candidates only circled one of the vectors. A common error was to identify speed as a vector.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0625/41 Q1(a) (Cambridge)
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