Question

A 82-kg fisherman in a 112-kg boat throws a package of mass m = 15 kg horizontally toward the right with a speed of vi = 4.8 m/s as in the figure below. Neglecting water resistance, and assuming the boat is at rest before the package is thrown, find the velocity of the boat after the package is thrown.

Answer 1

Answer:

0.37 m/s to the left

Explanation:

Momentum is conserved.  Initial momentum = final momentum.

m₁ u₁ + m₂ u₂ = m₁ v₁ + m₂ v₂

Initially, both the fisherman/boat and the package are at rest.

0 = m₁ v₁ + m₂ v₂

Plugging in values and solving:

0 = (82 kg + 112 kg) v + (15 kg) (4.8 m/s)

v = -0.37 m/s

The boat's velocity is 0.37 m/s to the left.