Question

A stationary, 32 kilogram ice skater catches a 0.5 kilogram snowball thrown at a speed of 45 meters per second. The collision is totally inelastic. How fast, in meters per second, does the skater (and snowball) move afterward? Friction of the skater on the ice is negligible.

Answer 1

Answer:

V = 0.69 m/s

Explanation:

Given that,

The mass of a ice skater, m₁ = 32 kg

The initial speed of the ice skater, u₁ = 0

Mass of a snowball, m₂ = 0.5 kg

The initial speed of a snowball, u₂ = 45 m/s

eIt is mentioned that the collision is totally inelastic. Let V be the common speed of skater and the ball. So, using the law of conservation of momentum.

$m_1u_1+m_2u_2=(m_1+m_2)V\\\\V=\dfrac{m_1u_1+m_2u_2}{m_1+m_2}\\\\V=\dfrac{32\times 0+0.5\times 45}{32+0.5}\\\\V=0.69\ m/s$

So, the common speed is equal to 0.69 m/s.