Conservation of Momentum in Collisions

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In summary, the conversation discusses a scenario where a person is riding a sled with a constant velocity and momentum, but suddenly their friend bails off the sled. The question asks which of the given options is a correct possibility for the final momenta of the friend, the person, and the sled, assuming there are no net external forces acting on the system. The answer to the question is option b, where the person's momentum remains the same as before while the sled's momentum becomes negative. The subsequent question discusses the conservation of momentum in elastic and inelastic collisions and concludes that momentum is constant in both cases if no external forces are present. The conversation ends with a counter-question about which system is not experiencing external forces in this scenario.
  • #1
TheHamburgler1
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I have no idea how to do this first one

1. Youre coasting with a friend on a sled, going a constant velocity, having a momentum of +120kg m/s when suddenly your friend bails off the sled. Assuming there are no net external forces acting on the system which of the following gives a correct possibility for the final momenta for first your friend, then you and the sled?

a) -50 kg m/s, +170 kg m/s
b) -50 kg m/s, +120kg m/s
c) -50 kg m/s, -70 kg m/s
d) +70 kg m/s, -50 kg m/s
e) +120 kg m/s, -50 kg m/s


my other question: Is momentum conserved in both elastic and inelastic collisions or only elastic?
 
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  • #2
Counter-question:
If a system is not experiencing any EXTERNAL forces, what can you say about the system's momentum?
 
  • #3
It's constant right
 
  • #4
This therefore means that the answer has to be B right? Because therefore the momentum for the sled is the same or am I wrong?
 
  • #5
TheHamburgler1 said:
This therefore means that the answer has to be B right? Because therefore the momentum for the sled is the same or am I wrong?
What system is NOT experiencing external forces in this cases?

Is it:
i) You
ii) You+sled
iii) Sled
iv) Sled+friend
vii) Friend+you
viii) Friend
ix) You+Friend+Sled
 

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