Question

Steve has a mass of 78 kg and is standing still on very slippery ice while holding a 2.5 kg can of peas. Steve throws the can to the right so that it travels with a velocity of 8.7 m/s. What is Steve’s velocity after he throws the can?

Answer 1

Answer: 0.28 m/s


Let

M1 = mass of Steve
V1 = velocity of Steve
M2 = mass of can
V2 = velocity of can

Because momentum is a conserved quantity:

P1 - P2 = 0

So

M1*V1 - M2*V2 = 0

78.0kg(V1) - 2.5kg(8.7m/s) = 0

78.0(V1) = 21.75

V1= 0.28 m/s