A 30 kg child moving at 4 m/s jumps onto a 50 kg sled that is initiall

  • Thread starter chicagobears
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In summary, the problem involves a 30 kg child jumping onto a 50 kg sled that is initially on a frictionless surface. The final speed of the child-sled system can be found using the conservation of momentum equation, (30)(4)=(30+50)(v). This is a 'totally inelastic' collision, where the two objects stick together after the collision. Momentum is always conserved in any type of collision when no external forces are present.
  • #1
chicagobears
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Homework Statement


A 30 kg child moving at 4 m/s jumps onto a 50 kg sled that is initially on a frictionless surface. Find the speed of the child-sled system after it jumps onto the sled
I know the solution looks like this
(30)(4)=(30+50)(v)
but i don't know why and what that equation is?
 
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  • #2


You should look up momentum or collisions thru a web search or text. It is the conservation of momentum equation for a 'totally inelastic' collision. Please indicate why this collision is totally inelastic; but in general, momentum is always conserved in any type collision when no external forces are present.
 
  • #3


Thanks PhantomJay. I read about it and it makes sense. We haven't learned momentum yet so I was confused on what they were doing.
 

1. How does the momentum of the child-sled system change after the jump?

After the jump, the momentum of the child-sled system remains the same as it was before the jump. According to the law of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of a system remains constant unless acted upon by an external force.

2. What is the final velocity of the child-sled system after the jump?

The final velocity of the child-sled system depends on the initial velocity of the child and the sled. If the child and the sled were initially at rest, the final velocity would be 0 m/s. However, if the child and sled were both moving before the jump, the final velocity would be a combination of their individual velocities.

3. How does the mass of the sled affect the motion of the child-sled system?

The mass of the sled affects the motion of the child-sled system by changing its momentum. The larger the mass of the sled, the more inertia it has and the harder it is to change its state of motion. This means that the child-sled system will have a lower final velocity after the jump if the sled has a larger mass.

4. What other factors can affect the motion of the child-sled system?

Other factors that can affect the motion of the child-sled system include the surface on which the sled is moving, the presence of friction, and the angle at which the child jumps onto the sled. These factors can impact the velocity and trajectory of the child-sled system after the jump.

5. What is the difference between momentum and velocity?

Momentum is a measure of an object's motion, taking into account both its mass and velocity. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. On the other hand, velocity is a measure of the rate of change of an object's position. It is also a vector quantity, representing both the speed and direction of an object's motion.

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