Momentum: past paper questions
Real questions on momentum
The newest 20 of 32 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0972/42 · May/June 2026 · Q4a[1]
Define ‘impulse’ in words.
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2026 · Q4b(i)[2]
(i) The student stops moving 0.95s after her feet first touch the ground. Calculate the resultant force exerted on the student as she stops moving. resultant force .......... [2]
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2026 · Q4b(ii)[3]
(ii) 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. dace .......... [3]
See it on the paper → - 0972/31 · 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 → - 0972/41 · May/June 2025 · Q1a[1]
Circle the vector quantities in the list.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · 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 → - 0972/41 · 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 → - 0972/42 · May/June 2025 · Q3a[1]
Define momentum.
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · 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 → - 0972/42 · May/June 2025 · Q3c[2]
A different train is travelling with a momentum of 0.26 kg m / s. The train slows down and stops after 2.1 s. Calculate the average force acting on the train during this time. average force =
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2024 · Q2a(i)[2]
Calculate the maximum momentum of the car during the race. maximum momentum =
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2024 · Q2a(i)[3]
the speed at which trolley P moves to the left speed of P =
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2023 · Q1b(ii)[3]
Show that the change in momentum of the ball when it bounces off the path is 5.2 kg m / s.
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2023 · Q2b[2]
It takes 0.12 s to catch the ball and bring it to rest. Calculate the average force exerted on the ball. average force =
See it on the paper → - 0972/42 · May/June 2023 · Q2c[1]
As the student catches the ball, she moves her hands backwards. Explain the effect of this action on the student’s hands.
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2022 · Q1b(i)[3]
Calculate the impulse exerted on block A as it accelerates from rest to 0.60 m / s. impulse =
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2021 · Q2a(i)[2]
the impulse exerted on the trolley impulse =
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · May/June 2021 · Q2a(ii)[2]
the speed of the ball as it hits the trolley. speed =
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2020 · Q1a[2]
Calculate the magnitude of the momentum of the disc. magnitude of momentum =
See it on the paper → - 0972/41 · October/November 2020 · Q1b(i)[1]
State the magnitude of the impulse exerted on the disc and the direction, in degrees, of the impulse relative to the original direction of travel. magnitude of impulse = direction of impulse: ° to original direction
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
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, 0972/41 Q1(a) (Cambridge)
Many candidates identified the two changes to the motion of the object; direction and speed (or magnitude of velocity). Some candidates gained only partial credit by using two different words to express the same change in the motion.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0972/41 Q2(a)(i) (Cambridge)
A fully correct answer here required an equation with F as the subject and the terms explained. Only the strongest candidates answered fully correctly. Many candidates recalled F = ma which was insufficient without the additional explanation that acceleration = rate of change in velocity.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0972/41 Q3(b)(ii) (Cambridge)
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