Progressive Particles collisions practice questions
Use Clevolab for progressive practice in particles collisions. This page shows what the topic covers, what skills the current set targets, and a few real examples from the reviewed question bank.
About this topic
Clevolab treats particles collisions as repeated practice with explanation, not just answer checking. This page is designed to make the topic legible before you open the app.
The current Progressive set covers particle interactions, momentum conservation, and collision analysis. 160 reviewed questions currently published for this page.
What you can practise
- Momentum conservation
- Elastic and inelastic collisions
- Particle interaction reasoning
- Impulse and change in momentum
Real sample questions from the current set
These examples come from the reviewed questions currently stored for this topic. They are here so the page shows the actual flavour of Clevolab, not just a summary.
Sample question
A $2\,\mathrm{kg}$ cart moving at $1\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$ elastically collides head‑on with an identical cart at rest. Speed of the second after?
- A$0.5\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$Answer option
- B$0\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$Answer option
- C$2\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$Answer option
- D$1\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$Correct answer
Why this answer is right
Equal masses in a 1D elastic collision exchange speeds, so the second cart departs at $1\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$.
Apply momentum and kinetic energy conservation.
Sample question
A $4\,\mathrm{kg}$ cart at $1\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}$ collides elastically head-on with a $1\,\mathrm{kg}$ cart at rest. What fraction of the initial kinetic energy remains with the $4\,\mathrm{kg}$ cart?
- A$\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)^2$Correct answer
- B$\left(\dfrac{1}{5}\right)^2$Answer option
- C$\left(\dfrac{4}{5}\right)^2$Answer option
- D$\left(\dfrac{2}{5}\right)^2$Answer option
Why this answer is right
After collision $v_1=\dfrac{m_1-m_2}{m_1+m_2}u_1=\dfrac{3}{5}u_1$. Kinetic energy scales with speed squared, so the fraction is $(3/5)^2$.
For 1D elastic collisions with $u_2=0$, $$v_1=\dfrac{m_1-m_2}{m_1+m_2}u_1.$$ With $m_1=4$, $m_2=1$, $$v_1=\dfrac{3}{5}u_1.$$ Thus $$\dfrac{K_{1,f}}{K_{1,i}}=\left(\dfrac{v_1}{u_1}\right)^2=\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)^2.$$
Sample question
In a head-on elastic collision, a mass $m_1$ with speed $u$ hits a stationary mass $m_2$. What fraction of the projectile’s initial kinetic energy is carried by $m_2$ after the collision?
- A$\dfrac{4m_1 m_2}{(m_1+m_2)^2}$Correct answer
- B$\dfrac{(m_1 - m_2)^2}{(m_1 + m_2)^2}$Answer option
- C$\dfrac{m_2}{m_1 + m_2}$Answer option
- D$\dfrac{4 m_2^2}{(m_1 + m_2)^2}$Answer option
Why this answer is right
Energy and momentum conservation yield $v_2=\dfrac{2m_1}{m_1+m_2}u$. The final kinetic energy of $m_2$ is $\tfrac12 m_2 v_2^2$. Dividing by the initial $\tfrac12 m_1 u^2$ gives $\dfrac{4m_1 m_2}{(m_1+m_2)^2}$.
For a head-on elastic impact with $u_2=0$, the standard results are $$v_1=\frac{m_1-m_2}{m_1+m_2}u,\qquad v_2=\frac{2m_1}{m_1+m_2}u.$$ The target’s kinetic energy is $$K_2=\tfrac12 m_2 v_2^2=\tfrac12 m_2\left(\frac{2m_1}{m_1+m_2}u\right)^2.$$ Relative to the initial $K_i=\tfrac12 m_1 u^2$, the fraction is $$\frac{K_2}{K_i}=\frac{m_2}{m_1}\left(\frac{2m_1}{m_1+m_2}\right)^2=\frac{4m_1 m_2}{(m_1+m_2)^2}.$$
How this page fits into Clevolab
Clevolab is broader than any one exam mode. GCSE and A-level pages are useful entry points, while the wider project is about sharpening understanding through repeated topic practice.