Question

A 70-kg ice skater is standing still on the ice, when a friend tosses him a 10-kg ball that is traveling at +8 m/s. If he catches it, what would be the velocity of the person holding the ball? What type of collision is this?

Answer 1

Answer:+1.25 m/s

Explanation:

Given

mass of ice skater M=70 kg

mass of ball m=10 kg

the initial velocity of the ball  $u_1=+8\ m/s$

Conserving linear momentum

$M\times0+m\timesu_1=(M+m)v\quad \quad [v=\text{combined velocity of skater and ball}]$

$v=\dfrac{10\times10}{80}=+1.25\ m/s$

Therefore the velocity of the person holding the ball is 1.25 m/s

This collision represents the perfectly inelastic collision where particles stick together after the collision.