Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum | OCR A-Level Physics A (H556)

Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum

  • 43 questions
  • 4 subtopics
  • Module 3: Forces and motion
  • Paper 1 and Paper 3

Newton's three laws stated properly, momentum as the quantity his second law really concerns, impulse, and the conservation of momentum in collisions..

It covers newton's three laws and linear momentum, force as rate of change of momentum, impulse and force-time graphs and conservation of momentum and collisions.

Sample questions from Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum

Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.

  1. Newton's three laws and linear momentum

    What are the SI units of momentum?

    Show the answer
    kg m s⁻¹ (or equivalently N s).
  2. Newton's three laws and linear momentum

    What condition must be met for an object to remain at rest or continue moving at constant velocity?

    Show the answer
    There must be no resultant force acting on the object.
  3. Force as rate of change of momentum

    How is resultant force related to the rate of change of momentum?

    Show the answer
    The resultant force acting on an object equals the rate of change of its momentum.
  4. Force as rate of change of momentum

    Explain how airbags reduce the force experienced by a car occupant during a collision.

    Show the answer
    Airbags increase the time over which the occupant's momentum changes; since impulse equals change in momentum, a longer time means a smaller average force.
  5. Impulse and force-time graphs

    Define impulse.

    Show the answer
    Impulse is the product of force and the time for which it acts.
  6. Impulse and force-time graphs

    Calculate the impulse when force = 533 N, time interval = 0.227 s.

    Show the answer
    Impulse = 533 × 0.227 = 121 N s.
  7. Conservation of momentum and collisions

    Define a perfectly elastic collision.

    Show the answer
    A collision in which both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved.
  8. Conservation of momentum and collisions

    How does the scientific community use analysis of collision forces to improve vehicle safety?

    Show the answer
    By investigating the forces involved in collisions, researchers develop safety features (such as crumple zones and airbags) designed to reduce the likelihood of personal injury.

The 4 subtopics

One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.

Subtopic What it covers Questions
Newton's three laws and linear momentum Recall questions on Newton's first and third laws, linear momentum, its equation, units and calculation, and momentum as a vector quantity. 10
Force as rate of change of momentum Recall questions on Newton's second law in terms of momentum, resultant force as rate of change of momentum, when F = ma applies, and how airbags and longer collision times reduce force. 9
Impulse and force-time graphs Recall questions on impulse, its equation, units and calculation, its relationship to change in momentum, and finding impulse from the area under linear and non-linear force-time graphs. 8
Conservation of momentum and collisions Recall questions on the conditions for and principle of conservation of momentum, elastic and inelastic collisions, collision forces and vehicle safety, and momentum in one- and two-dimensional collisions with calculations. 16
Newton’s Laws of Motion and Momentum is 43 of the 1,862 questions in the guide.Get the guide, £8

How the guide is worked

Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.

  1. Step 1 · Closed book

    Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.

  2. Step 2 · Open book

    Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.

  3. Step 3 · Closed book again

    Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.

Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.

Nearby topics

All 25 topics Guide overview

OCR A-Level Physics A Active Recall Guide

Every topic, not just this one. 1,862 questions with their answers.

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