Question

a 75 kg man is standing at rest on ice while holding a 4kg ball. if the man throws the ball at a velocity of 3.50 m/s forward, what will his resulting velocity be?​

Answer 1

Answer:

His resulting velocity will be 0.187 m/s backwards.

Explanation:

Given:

Mass of the man is, $M=75\ kg$

Mass of the ball is, $m=4\ kg$

Initial velocity of the man is, $u_m=0\ m/s(rest)$

Initial velocity of the ball is, $u_b=0\ m/s(rest)$

Final velocity of the ball is, $v_b=3.50\ m/s$

Final velocity of the man is, $v_m=?\ m/s$

In order to solve this problem, we apply law of conservation of momentum.

It states that sum of initial momentum is equal to the sum of final momentum.

Momentum is the product of mass and velocity.

Initial momentum = Initial momentum of man and ball

Initial momentum = $Mu_m+mu_b=75\times 0+4\times 0 =0\ Nm$

Final momentum = Final momentum of man and ball

Final momentum = $Mv_m+mv_b=75\times v_m+4\times 3.50 =75v_m+14$

Now, initial momentum = final momentum

$0=75v_m+14\\\\75v_m=-14\\\\v_m=\frac{-14}{75}\\\\v_m=-0.187\ m/s$

The negative sign implies backward motion of the man.

Therefore, his resulting velocity is 0.187 m/s backwards.