Question

A crossbow (5.0kg) is sitting loaded with a bolt (m = 0.10kg) on a friction free table. The crossbow is triggered and the bolt (also called an arrow) is launched to the right with a speed of 25 m/s. The velocity of the crossbow as it recoils is _m/s​

Answer 1

The velocity of the crossbow as it recoils is 5 m/s. This can be calculated using the conservation of momentum. The momentum of the system before the bow was triggered is 0 (since the bow is stationary). After launching the bolt, the momentum of the system is (0.10 kg * 25 m/s), so in order for the momentum of the system to remain constant, the crossbow must recoil with a momentum of (5.0 kg * -5 m/s).