Question

Two football players are running next to each other on a football field in a straight line from one end of the field to the other end. As they are running, one of the football players is carrying a heavy weight and decides to throw the weight to the other player. If neither football player exerts any force perpendicular to their direction of motion, which of the following choices is correct about their motion after the weight is thrown and caught by the other football player?

Answer 1

When the weight is thrown and caught, the first player's velocity would decrease slightly, while the second player's velocity would increase slightly. However, the change in motion for the second player would be much smaller compared to the first player due to the second player's greater mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the football player throws the weight to the other player, the momentum of the weight is transferred to the second player. Since momentum is a vector quantity, the direction of the momentum of the weight is opposite to the direction of the player's original motion. The momentum of the first player would be slightly reduced, while the second player would experience an increase in momentum.

In terms of their motion after the weight is thrown and caught, the first player's velocity would decrease slightly, while the second player's velocity would increase slightly. However, since the second player has a much greater mass, the change in velocity for the second player would be much smaller compared to the first player.

Overall, both players' motions would be affected to some extent, but the change in motion for the second player would be much less significant compared to the first player.