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A wagon is rolling forward on level ground. Friction is negligible. The person sitting in the wagon is holding a rock. The total mass of the wagon, rider, and rock is 95.8 kg. The mass of the rock is 0.325 kg. Initially the wagon is rolling forward at a speed of 0.530 m/s. Then the person throws the rock with a speed of 15.1 m/s. Both speeds are relative to the ground. Find the speed of the wagon after the rock is thrown (a) directly forward in one case and (b) directly backward in another.

1 Answer

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Answer:

a)0.48 m/s

b) 0.583 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

As the wagon rolls,

momentum'p'= m x v => 95.8 x 0.530 = 50.774 Kgm/s

(a)Rock is thrown forward,

momentum of rock = 0.325 x 15.1 = 4.9075 Kgm/s

Conservation of momentum says momentum of wagon is given by

50.774 - 4.9075 = 45.8665

Therefore, Speed of wagon = 45.8665 / (95.8-0.325) = 0.48 m/s

(b) Rock is thrown backward,

momentum of wagon = 50.774 + 4.9075 = 55.68 Kgm/s

Therefore, speed of wagon = 55.68 / (95.8-0.325) = 0.583 m/s

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