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A 40kg jogger jogging at 3m/s south hits a 55kg walker traveling at 1.5m/s east. If the jogger continues south at 1.5m/s, what is the final speed and angle of the walker?

User Pavlus
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

To solve this physics problem, momentum conservation is applied in both the north-south and east-west directions. The final speed of the walker is calculated to be 5.53 m/s at an angle of 45° south of east after collision with the jogger.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, we can use the principle of conservation of momentum since no external forces are acting on the jogger and walker. Before the collision, the jogger is moving south and the walker east, and after the collision, the jogger continues to move south but at a reduced speed. To find the final velocity of the walker, we need to maintain the conservation of momentum for both the north-south and east-west directions.

Let's denote the final velocity of the walker as Vw and its angle from the east direction as θ. To conserve momentum in the north-south direction: initial momentum of jogger = final momentum of jogger + south component of walker's momentum. Mathematically, this is 40 kg * 3 m/s = 40 kg * 1.5 m/s + 55 kg * Vw * sin(θ).

To conserve momentum in the east-west direction, since only the walker is moving east: 55 kg * 1.5 m/s = 55 kg * Vw * cos(θ).

By solving these two equations, we find Vw = 5.53 m/s and θ = 45° south of east.

User Chris Byatt
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