Question

A 62.2 kg ice skater moving to the right with a velocity of 2.66 m/s throws a 0.145 kg snowball to the right with a velocity of 39.3 m/s relative to the ground. What is the velocity of the ice skater after throwing the snowball? Disregard the friction between the skates and the ice.

Answer 1

Answer:

Velocity of skater after throwing the snowball is 2.57 m/s

Explanation:

Given :

Mass of skater, M = 62.2 kg

Mass of snowball, m = 0.145 kg

Velocity of snowball relative to ground, v = 39.3 m/s

Consider v₁ be the velocity of skater after throwing the snowball.

According to the problem, initially the velocity of skater and snowball is same. So,

Velocity of skater before throwing snowball, u = 2.66 m/s

Applying conservation of momentum,

Momentum before throwing snowball = Momentum after throwing snowball

(M + m) u = Mv₁ + mv

$v_{1}=\frac{(M+m)u-mv}{M}$

Substitute the suitable values in the above equation.

$v_{1}=\frac{(62.2+0.145)2.66-0.145\times39.3}{62.2}$

v₁ = 2.57 m/s