A 65.0 kg person throws a 0.0480 kg snowball forward with a ground speed of 27.0 m/s. A second person, with a

Question

A 65.0 kg person throws a 0.0480 kg snowball forward with a ground speed of 27.0 m/s. A second person, with a mass of 60.0 kg, catches the snowball. Both people are on skates. The first person is initially moving forward with a speed of 2.10 m/s, and the second person is initially at rest. What are the velocities of the two people after the snowball is exchanged? Disregard the friction between the skates and the ice.

A. thrower

B. catcher

Answer 1

You need to use Principle of Conservation of Linear Momentum.

For the thrower :

m1 = mass of man = 65 kg

m2 = mass of snowball = 0.048 kg

u1 = initial velocity of the man =  2.10 m/s

u2 = initial velocity of the snowball = 0 m/s w.r.t. the man = 2.10 m/s w.r.t. ground

v1 = final velocity of the man = ?

v2 = final velocity of the snowball w.r.t. the ground = 27 m/s

Use m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2

Find v1.

Similarly, try to find v1 for the catcher.

Hope this helps.

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