Conservation of momentum question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a conservation of momentum problem involving a woman throwing a rock while standing on a frictionless surface. Participants are exploring whether the momentum of the system, consisting of the woman and the rock, is conserved and examining the implications of external forces on different components of momentum.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning the conservation of momentum in the context of external forces, particularly the normal force and gravity, and how these forces affect the vertical component of momentum.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing insights into how external forces influence momentum conservation. There is an exploration of different components of momentum and their conservation status, but no consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants are considering the implications of external forces, such as gravity and the normal force, on the conservation of momentum in the system. The problem setup assumes a frictionless environment, which is being critically examined.

overtak3n
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Hello, can someone explain to me this question:

A woman holding a large rock stands on a frictionless, horizontal
sheet of ice. She throws the rock with speed Vo at an angle α
above the horizontal. Consider the system consisting of the woman
plus the rock. Is the momentum of the system conserved? Why or
why not? Is any component of the momentum of the system conserved?
Again, why or why not?

The way I understand it is there is no loss in momentum since there are no external forces. No?
 
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What about the normal force acting on the woman.
 
I believe the normal force changes as she throws the rock, so the vertical component changes?
 
Yes. This component of their combined momentum will change.
 
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Does gravity working on the rock also indicate that the vertical component isn't conserved?
 
Yes it is also an external force as far as the system is concerned. It is a force that originates from something that is not part of the system.
 
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Okay, thanks for the help!
 

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