Question

Olaf is standing on a sheet of ice that covers the football stadium parking lot in Buffalo, New York; there is negligible friction between his feet and the ice. A friend throws Olaf a ball of mass 0.400 kg that is traveling horizontally at 11.3 m/s. Olaf's mass is 75.0 kg. (a) If Olaf catches the ball, with what speed v_f do Olaf and the ball move afterward

Answer 1

v = 0.059 m/s

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the final speed of Olaf and the ball you use the conservation momentum law. The momentum of Olaf and the ball before catches the ball is the same of the momentum of Olaf and the ball after. Then, you have:

`mv_(1i)+Mv_(2i)=(m+M)v` (1)

m: mass of the ball = 0.400kg

M: mass of Olaf = 75.0 kg

v1i: initial velocity of the ball = 11.3m/s

v2i: initial velocity of Olaf = 0m/s

v: final velocity of Olaf and the ball

You solve the equation (1) for v and replace the values of all variables:

`v=(mv_(1i))/(m+M)=((0.400kg)(11.3m/s))/(0.400kg+75.0kg)=0.059(m)/(s)`

Hence, after Olaf catches the ball, the velocity of Olaf and the ball is 0.059m/s