Abstract In the present work, the classical theory of plate, the von Karman nonlinear theory and the nonlocal theory of elasticity are adopted to analyze the impact between a nanoparticle and an orthotropic rectangular nanoplate with surface tensions. Employing an analytical contact law to explain the von der Waals forces, the equations of motion are solved for the indenter-plate system. As an application, this approach is taken for a nanoparticle colliding with a simply supported single-layered graphene sheet and the rebound behavior of the particle is discussed. Then, the influences of surface tension and the nonlocal parameter on the dynamics response of the particle are investigated. When enough surface tension is applied, the membrane theory gives an acceptable estimate for the restitution behavior of the indenter otherwise, the estimates are associated with a maximum error of 15%. The effects of disregarding the flexural stiffness of the graphene sheet and ignoring the attraction part of the von der Waals forces are also examined. Studying the dimensional effects on the system behavior revealed that optimum dimensions of the plate maximize its capacity for energy absorption when it is employed as an energy absorber against colliding particles. Finally, a contact law for large nanoparticles is proposed and then is applied to an example including an SLGS colliding with a multi-atom indenter.