Conservation of momentum question FINAL

Thread starter vorcil
Start date Mar 29, 2009
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Conservation Conservation of momentum Final Momentum

AI Thread Summary

The discussion centers on the conservation of momentum, specifically how a cart moves in response to a person running. As the individual runs to the right, the cart moves slightly to the left, indicating that the total momentum remains constant. The initial assumption was that the cart would move the full 15 meters, but the actual distance is less due to the cart's movement. Participants seek to understand the mathematical equations that describe this relationship. The focus is on deriving the equations that illustrate the conservation of momentum in this scenario.

Mar 29, 2009

vorcil

Can someone care to explain the mathematics behind it?
i initally thought that she'd go the full 15m, but because the cart does move slightly to the left as she runs it's just a bit less than the full 15m,

can someone give me the maths to it?

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9297/masteringphysicsq1.jpg

Last edited by a moderator: May 4, 2017

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Mar 29, 2009

Pythagorean

Science Advisor

As Ann runs to the right, the cart starts to move to the left with equal momentum... that gives you your first equation.

Last edited: Mar 29, 2009

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