Momentum and movement basic GCSE Quest

AI Thread Summary
Mr. Green, with a mass of 80 kg, stepped off a 35 kg boat at a speed of 3 m/s, prompting a discussion on momentum conservation. The initial momentum of both Mr. Green and the boat was zero, and to maintain this, the boat must move in the opposite direction with equal momentum. The correct calculation for the boat's velocity involves using the momentum of Mr. Green, which is 240 kg m/s, leading to the boat's velocity being 240/35 m/s. The importance of correctly applying positive and negative signs in momentum calculations was emphasized throughout the discussion. Ultimately, the final velocity of the boat was confirmed to be 240/35 m/s.
nonthesecond
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Mr Green, mass 80 kg, stepped off a boat of mass 35 kg at a speed of 3m/s. how fast did the boat move in the opposite direction?

i have no idea how to work it out?
 
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nonthesecond said:
Mr Green, mass 80 kg, stepped off a boat of mass 35 kg at a speed of 3m/s. how fast did the boat move in the opposite direction?

i have no idea how to work it out?

I think you will find that Mr Green and the boat are assumed to be at rest initially, so the total momentum was - and will remain - zero.
 
PeterO said:
I think you will find that Mr Green and the boat are assumed to be at rest initially, so the total momentum was - and will remain - zero.

ok thanks but how do i answer the question?
 
PeterO said:
I think you will find that Mr Green and the boat are assumed to be at rest initially, so the total momentum was - and will remain - zero.

i still don't understand i don't understand what formula to use as well.
 
nonthesecond said:
i still don't understand i don't understand what formula to use as well.

If you define the direction Mr Green goes as positive, he will have some positive momentum after he leaves the boat.
To maintain a total of zero, the boat must have an equal sized, but negative momentum - so it will be traveling at an appropriate speed in the negative direction (ie the other way)
 
PeterO said:
If you define the direction Mr Green goes as positive, he will have some positive momentum after he leaves the boat.
To maintain a total of zero, the boat must have an equal sized, but negative momentum - so it will be traveling at an appropriate speed in the negative direction (ie the other way)

i think i remeber my teacher saying that it's: 80 + 35= 115
115 x 3 = 375
375/35 = 1.3...m/s

is that correct?
 
nonthesecond said:
i think i remeber my teacher saying that it's: 80 + 35= 115
115 x 3 = 375
375/35 = 1.3...m/s

is that correct?

Sadly, no.

When you added the masses and multiplied by 3 (presumably the speed of Mr Green), you calculate the momentum if both he and the boat were traveling at that veocity; only he is.
 
nonthesecond said:
i think i remeber my teacher saying that it's: 80 + 35= 115
115 x 3 = 375
375/35 = 1.3...m/s

is that correct?

answer these in order:
What is Mr Green's mass?

What is Mr Green's velocity?

What is Mr Green's momentum?

What is the boat's momentum?

What is the boat's mass?

What is the boat's velocity?
 
PeterO said:
answer these in order:
What is Mr Green's mass?

What is Mr Green's velocity?

What is Mr Green's momentum?

What is the boat's momentum?

What is the boat's mass?

What is the boat's velocity?

you are very kind for helping me.

80kg

240 kg m/s

105 kg m/s

35kg

no idea for velocity i know formula is f=d/t but you aren't given time or distance.
 
  • #10
nonthesecond said:
you are very kind for helping me.

80kg correct

(+3) - but you didn't answer that question

+240 kg m/s almost correct

105 kg m/s incorrect

35kg correct

no idea for velocity i know formula is f=d/t but you aren't given time or distance.

For that final velocity - think about how you calculated the momentum of Mr Green - and don't forget to use + and - signs correctly.
Velocity is a vector; so can be positive or negative.

EDIT: Hint - answers 3 and 4 add up to zero
 
  • #11
PeterO said:
For that final velocity - think about how you calculated the momentum of Mr Green - and don't forget to use + and - signs correctly.
Velocity is a vector; so can be positive or negative.

EDIT: Hint - answers 3 and 4 add up to zero

is the answer 240/35?
 
  • #12
PeterO said:
For that final velocity - think about how you calculated the momentum of Mr Green - and don't forget to use + and - signs correctly.
Velocity is a vector; so can be positive or negative.

EDIT: Hint - answers 3 and 4 add up to zero

did i get the question right?
 
  • #13
nonthesecond said:
is the answer 240/35?

Certainly is.
 

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