What is the initial momentum of the sled-person system?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the initial momentum of a sled-person system where a 75.0 kg person jumps onto a 10.0 kg sled. The initial momentum is calculated as 245 kg(m/s) using the equation P = mv. The final momentum remains the same due to conservation, resulting in a final velocity of approximately 2.89 m/s after the person jumps onto the sled. Participants clarify that the momentum should not be treated as a single unit, and minor numerical discrepancies in rounding are discussed. Overall, the calculations are confirmed to be correct with only slight rounding differences noted.
Glenboro
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1. Homework Statement
A 75.0 kg person runs at 3.00 m/s and jumps onto a sled of mass 10.0 kg already moving in the same direction as the person at 2.00 m/s.

a) What is the initial momentum of the sled-person system?
b) What will the final momentum of the sled and the person be?
c) What is the velocity of the sled and the person after the person jumps on the sled?2. Homework Equations
P = mv
Pi = Pf (when momentum is conserved)
m1vi + m2vi = m1vf + m2vf3. The Attempt at a Solution
a)P = mv
p = (75.0kg)(3.00m/s) + (10.0kg)(2.00m/s)
p = +245 kg(m/s)

The questions a) is little tricky, I am not sure if I should get momentum of being one unit (e.g 75.0 kg + 10.0kg)(3.00m/s+2.00m/s) or what I did originally

b) Pi = Pf (when momentum is conserved)
Therefore pf = 245 kg(m/s)

C) m1vi + m2vi = m1vf + m2vf
245 kg(m/s) = (75kg +10kg)(v2f)
V2f = 2.89 m/s
 
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a small error on c
 
Glenboro said:
not sure if I should get momentum of being one unit (e.g 75.0 kg + 10.0kg)(3.00m/s+2.00m/s)
No, that would be quite wrong. Nothing here is moving at 5m/s.
skarner said:
a small error on c
How small? I get 2.882...
 
haruspex said:
No, that would be quite wrong. Nothing here is moving at 5m/s.

How small? I get 2.882...
Thank you, I was going to do as one unit, but I thought something was wrong, so I did the separately.
Do you think all my answers are correct though?
 
Glenboro said:
Thank you, I was going to do as one unit, but I thought something was wrong, so I did the separately.
Do you think all my answers are correct though?
Apart from the tiny numerical error in c, yes.
 
haruspex said:
Apart from the tiny numerical error in c, yes.
Hm.. I don't recognize any error, I just rounded to 2.89 m/s from 2.882 m/s which you just wrote.
 
Glenboro said:
Hm.. I don't recognize any error, I just rounded to 2.89 m/s from 2.882 m/s which you just wrote.
2.88 is nearer to 2.882 than 2.89 is. Unless you specifically need to round up, round to nearest.
 
haruspex said:
2.88 is nearer to 2.882 than 2.89 is. Unless you specifically need to round up, round to nearest.
LoL I must've been drunken sorry
 

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