Question

Note: Take East as the positive direction. A(n) 81 kg fisherman jumps from a dock into a 128 kg rowboat at rest on the West side of the dock. If the velocity of the fisherman is 4.5 m/s to the West as he leaves the dock, what is the final velocity of the fisherman and the boat? Answer in units of m/s.

Answer 1

final velocity of fisherman will be 1.744 m /sec in west direction

Step-by-step explanation:

We have given mass of the fisherman
`m_1=81kg`

Velocity of fisherman
`v_=-4.5m/sec` ( As east direction is positive direction )

Mass of the rowboat
`m_2=128kg`

As the rowboat is at rest so
`v_2=0m/sec`

Now according to conservation of momentum

`m_1v_1+m_2v_2=(m_1+m_2)v`

`81* -4.5+128* 0=(81+128)* v`

`v=-1.744m/sec`

So final velocity of fisherman will be 1.744 m /sec in west direction