Question

A 10-m-long glider with a mass of 680 kg (including the passengers) is gliding horizontally through the air at 34 m/s when a 60 kg skydiver drops out by releasing his grip on the glider. What is the gliders speed just after the skydiver lets go? Express your answer to two significant figures and include the appropriate units.

Answer 1

Answer:

34 m/s

Explanation:

m = Mass of glider with person = 680 kg

v = Velocity of glider with person = 34 m/s

$m_1$ = Mass of glider without person = 680-60 kg

$v_1$ = Gliders speed just after the skydiver lets go

$m_2$ = Mass of person = 60 kg

$v_2$ = Velcotiy of person = 34 m/s

As the linear momentum of the system is conserved

$m_1v_1+m_2v_2=mv\\\Rightarrow v_1=\dfrac{mv-m_2v_2}{m_1}\\\Rightarrow v_1=\dfrac{680\times 34-60\times 34}{680-60}\\\Rightarrow v_1=34\ m/s$

The gliders speed just after the skydiver lets go is 34 m/s