Question

When a person steps forward out of a small boat onto a dock, the boat recoils backward in the water. why does this occur??

Answer 1

Due to conservation of momentum

Step-by-step explanation:

We know that if there is no any force acting on the system then the total linear momentum of system will remain conserve.We know that linear momentum given as

P = m x v

When person steps forward then velocity of person changes it means that the linear momentum also changes to balance this change in linear momentum the boat will move away from the bank. Because the linear momentum should be conserve.

Answer 2

Here is the correct answer of the given question above. When a person steps forward out of a small boat onto a dock, the boat recoils backward in the water and this occurs because the total momentum of the system is conserved. Hope this helps.