Question

Olaf is standing on a sheet of ice that covers the football stadium parking lot in Buffalo, New York; there is negligible friction between his feet and the ice. A friend throws Olaf a ball of mass 0.400 kg that is traveling horizontally at 10.9 m/s . Olaf's mass is 70.2 kg. (a) If Olaf catches the ball, with what speed vf do Olaf and the ball move afterward? Express your answer numerically in meters per second. (b) If the ball hits Olaf and bounces off his chest horizontally at 8.10 m/s in the opposite direction, what is his speed vf after the collision? Express your answer numerically in meters per second.

Answer 1

Explanation:

Momentum is conserved.

a) In the first scenario, Olaf and the ball have the same final velocity.

mu = (M + m) v

(0.400 kg) (10.9 m/s) = (70.2 kg + 0.400 kg) v

v = 0.0618 m/s

b) In the second scenario, the ball has a final velocity of 8.10 m/s in the opposite direction.

mu = mv + MV

(0.400 kg) (10.9 m/s) = (0.400 kg) (-8.10 m/s) + (70.2 kg) v

v = 0.108 m/s