Collision - NEET Physics Questions
Question 1: moderate

A stationary body of mass m explodes into 3 parts with mass ratio of \(1 : 3 : 3\). The two fragments with equal mass move at right angles to each other with velocity of \(15\text{ ms}^{-1}\). The velocity of the third fragment is (in \(\text{ms}^{-1}\)):

1. \(15\sqrt{2}\)
2. 5
3. \(20\sqrt{2}\)
4. \(45\sqrt{2}\)
View Answer

The ratio of masses is \(m' : 3m' : 3m'\). The combined momentum of the two perpendicular \(3m'\) masses is \(P = \sqrt{(3m' \times 15)^2 + (3m' \times 15)^2} = 45\sqrt{2} m'\). Conservation of momentum requires the third fragment \(m'\) to balance this: \(m' v_3 = 45\sqrt{2} m' ⇒ v_3 = 45\sqrt{2}\text{ ms}^{-1}\).

Question 2: moderate

A body with kinetic energy K moving in +X direction splits up into two parts A and B of equal mass on its own. Part ‘A’ moves back in -X direction with a velocity equal in magnitude to the initial velocity of the body. The kinetic energy of part B will be:

1. K
2. 4K
3. \(\frac{K}{2}\)
4. \(\frac{9}{2}K\)
View Answer

Let the total mass be \(2m\), so \(K = mv_0^2\). Under momentum conservation, \(2mv_0 = m(-v_0) + mv_B ⇒ v_B = 3v_0\). The kinetic energy of part B is \(K_B = \frac{1}{2}m(3v_0)^2 = \frac{9}{2}mv_0^2 = \frac{9}{2}K\).

Question 3: moderate

A ball of mass \( m \) approaches a wall of mass \( M \) (\( M \gg m \)) with speed \( 4\text{ m/s} \) along the normal to the wall. The speed of the wall is \( 1\text{ m/s} \) towards the ball. The speed of the ball after an elastic collision with the wall is:

1. \( 5\text{ m/s} \) away from the wall
2. \( 9\text{ m/s} \) away from the wall
3. \( 3\text{ m/s} \) away from the wall
4. \( 6\text{ m/s} \) away from the wall
View Answer

Using the coefficient of restitution \( e = 1 \), the relative velocity of separation equals the relative velocity of approach. The approach velocity is \( 4 - (-1) = 5\text{ m/s} \). After collision, the relative separation velocity is \( v' - 1 = 5 \implies v' = 6\text{ m/s} \) away from the wall.

Question 4: moderate

A block of mass \( m \) moving with a velocity \( v \) collides with another block of mass \( M \) at rest. The two blocks stick together due to the collision. The loss of K.E. expressed as a fraction of total initial kinetic energy is:

1. \( \frac{M}{m+M} \)
2. \( \frac{m}{m+M} \)
3. \( \frac{M^2}{m+M} \)
4. \( \frac{M-m}{m+M} \)
View Answer

By conservation of momentum, the final velocity after a completely inelastic collision is \( v_f = \frac{mv}{m+M} \). The fractional loss of kinetic energy is \( \frac{K_i - K_f}{K_i} = 1 - \frac{\frac{1}{2}(m+M)v_f^2}{\frac{1}{2}mv^2} = \frac{M}{m+M} \).

Question 5: moderate

An explosion blows a rock into three parts. Two parts go off at right angles to each other. These two are, \( 1 \text{ kg} \) first part moving with a velocity of \( 12 \text{ m s}^{-1} \) and \( 2 \text{ kg} \) second part moving with a velocity of \( 8 \text{ m s}^{-1} \). If the third part flies off with a velocity of \( 4 \text{ m s}^{-1} \), its mass would be:

(2009)

1. \( 7 \text{ kg} \)
2. \( 17 \text{ kg} \)
3. \( 3 \text{ kg} \)
4. \( 5 \text{ kg} \)
View Answer

By conservation of momentum, \( P_{text{total}} = 0 \). Momentum of first part \( P_1 = 1 \text{ kg} \times 12 \text{ m/s} = 12 \text{ Ns} \). Momentum of second part \( P_2 = 2 \text{ kg} \times 8 \text{ m/s} = 16 \text{ Ns} \). As \( P_1 \) and \( P_2 \) are perpendicular, their resultant \( P_{12} = sqrt{12^2 + 16^2} = 20 \text{ Ns} \). For conservation, \( P_3 \) must be \( 20 \text{ Ns} \). \( m_3 = P_3 / v_3 = 20 \text{ Ns} / 4 \text{ m/s} = 5 \text{ kg} \).

Question 6: moderate

A mass of \( 1 \text{ kg} \) is thrown up with a velocity of \( 100 \text{ m/s} \). After \( 5 \) seconds, it explodes into two parts. One part of mass \( 400 \text{ g} \) comes down with a velocity \( 25 \text{ m/s} \). Calculate the velocity of other part:

(2000)

1. \( 40 \text{ m/s} \) upward
2. \( 40 \text{ m/s} \) downward
3. \( 100 \text{ m/s} \) upward
4. \( 60 \text{ m/s} \) downward
View Answer

Velocity of \( 1 \text{ kg} \) mass after \( 5 \text{ s} \): \( v = u - gt = 100 - 10 \times 5 = 50 \text{ m/s} \) (upward). Initial momentum before explosion \( P_i = 1 \text{ kg} \times 50 \text{ m/s} = 50 \text{ Ns} \) (upward). Mass of first part \( m_1 = 0.4 \text{ kg} \), \( v_1 = -25 \text{ m/s} \). Mass of second part \( m_2 = 0.6 \text{ kg} \). By conservation of momentum: \( P_i = m_1 v_1 + m_2 v_2 \). \( 50 = 0.4 \times (-25) + 0.6 v_2 \). \( 50 = -10 + 0.6 v_2 \implies v_2 = 100 \text{ m/s} \) (upward).

Question 7: moderate

An explosion breaks a rock into three parts in a horizontal plane. Two of them go off at right angles to each other. The first part of mass \(1\text{ kg}\) moves with a speed of \(12\text{ ms}^{-1}\) and the second part of mass \(2\text{ kg}\) moves with \(8\text{ ms}^{-1}\) speed. If the third part flies off with \(4\text{ ms}^{-1}\) speed, then its mass is:

(2013, 2009)

1. \(17\text{ kg}\)
2. \(3\text{ kg}\)
3. \(5\text{ kg}\)
4. \(7\text{ kg}\)
View Answer

By conservation of momentum, the initial momentum is zero. Momentum of first part \(p_1 = 1\text{ kg} \times 12\text{ m/s} = 12\text{ kg m/s}\). Momentum of second part \(p_2 = 2\text{ kg} \times 8\text{ m/s} = 16\text{ kg m/s}\). Since they are perpendicular, resultant momentum \(p_{12} = \sqrt{12^2 + 16^2} = \sqrt{144 + 256} = \sqrt{400} = 20\text{ kg m/s}\). The third part must have momentum \(p_3 = 20\text{ kg m/s}\). Given its speed \(v_3 = 4\text{ m/s}\), its mass \(m_3 = p_3/v_3 = 20/4 = 5\text{ kg}\).

Question 8: moderate

A shell of mass \(200\text{ gm}\) is ejected from a gun of mass \(4\text{ kg}\) by an explosion that generates \(1.05\text{ kJ}\) of energy. The initial velocity of the shell is

(2008)

1. \(40\text{ m/s}\)
2. \(120\text{ m/s}\)
3. \(100\text{ m/s}\)
4. \(80\text{ m/s}\)
View Answer

Let shell mass \(m_s = 0.2\text{ kg}\), gun mass \(m_g = 4\text{ kg}\). Energy \(E = 1050\text{ J}\). By momentum conservation \(m_s v_s = m_g v_g\), so \(v_g = \frac{m_s v_s}{m_g} = \frac{0.2 v_s}{4} = \frac{v_s}{20}\). The energy is KE: \(E = \frac{1}{2}m_s v_s^2 + \frac{1}{2}m_g v_g^2 = \frac{1}{2}(0.2)v_s^2 + \frac{1}{2}(4)(\frac{v_s}{20})^2 = 0.1v_s^2 + \frac{2v_s^2}{400} = 0.1v_s^2 + 0.005v_s^2 = 0.105v_s^2\). Thus, \(v_s^2 = \frac{1050}{0.105} = 10000\), so \(v_s = 100\text{ m/s}\).

Question 9: moderate

Body A of mass $4m$ moving with speed $u$ collides with another body B of mass $2m$, at rest. The collision is head-on and elastic in nature. After the collision the fraction of energy lost by the colliding body A is:

(2019)

1. $\frac{1}{9}$
2. $\frac{8}{9}$
3. $\frac{4}{9}$
4. $\frac{5}{9}$
View Answer

Final velocity of A is $v_1 = \frac{m_1 - m_2}{m_1 + m_2}u = \frac{1}{3}u$. Fraction of energy lost is $1 - \left(\frac{v_1}{u}\right)^2 = 1 - \frac{1}{9} = \frac{8}{9}$.

Question 10: moderate

A moving block having mass $m$, collides with another stationary block having mass $4m$. The lighter block comes to rest after collision. When the initial velocity of the lighter block is $v$, then the value of coefficient of restitution ($e$) will be

(2018)

1. $0.8$
2. $0.25$
3. $0.5$
4. $0.4$
View Answer

By momentum conservation, $mv = 4m v_2 \implies v_2 = v/4$. Coefficient of restitution $e = \frac{v_2 - 0}{v - 0} = \frac{v/4}{v} = 0.25$.