Physics (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1118486897
ISBN 13: 978-1-11848-689-4

Chapter 7 - Impulse and Momentum - Check Your Understanding - Page 189: 19


a) $v_{cm}=0$ b) The raft moves in the opposite direction from the sunbather.

Work Step by Step

a) At start, because both the sunbather and the raft are stationary, $v_{cm}=0$ Because we consider the sunbather and the raft as an isolated system, the principle of linear momentum conservation applies. Therefore, while she is walking, $v_{cm}$ is always constant and equals $0$. b) The sunbather has mass $m$ and velocity $v$ while the boat has mass $M$ and velocity $V$. $$\frac{MV+mv}{M+m}=v_{cm}=0$$ $$MV+mv=0$$ $$V=-\frac{m}{M}v$$ Because $p_{sunbather}=mv\ne0$, $V\ne0$. In other words, the raft itself moves while she is moving. The negative sign shows the raft moves in the opposite direction of the sunbather.
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