# Conservation of momentum

#### eureka_beyond

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
the question goes like this
a man of mass 70kg falls onto a rescue cushion from a height of 7 m he comes to rest 0.2s after he reaches the cushion the cushion is 2m high when inflated
a)find the impact force acting on him (take the weight of the man into account)
b)by how many times is the impact force greater than his weight?

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution
a) For a, I first calculated the change of momentum of the man, which is 700kgms-1, then the impact force will be the change of momentum over time, which gives an answer of 3500N, which is a wrong answers since the answer in the book is 4200, I don't get it...

#### Doc Al

Mentor
then the impact force will be the change of momentum over time,
No, the change in momentum over time gives the net force on the man. The impact force (the force of the cushion on the man) is only one of the forces acting on him. What's the other?

#### H_man

Your calculation for the change in momentum is wrong. Or rather, the answer you give is wrong. How did u calculate this?

It seems you have taken the change of momentum as his weight. That is, multiplied his mass 70kg with gravity ~10. However this is NOT the change in momentum.

You need to consider the change in his potential energy to calculate his velocity.

#### Stonebridge

You first need to find the velocity (V)of the man just before he strikes the cushion.
(Use the familiar equations of motion for falling through a height of 7m onto cushion 2m thick with acceleration due to gravity.)
Use this velocity, combined with his mass to find his momentum just before he strikes the cushion.
Then use your impulse formula to find the impact force. (eta. noting the point in the question about his weight)

Last edited:

#### Doc Al

Mentor
Your calculation for the change in momentum is wrong. Or rather, the answer you give is wrong. How did u calculate this?

It seems you have taken the change of momentum as his weight. That is, multiplied his mass 70kg with gravity ~10. However this is NOT the change in momentum.

You need to consider the change in his potential energy to calculate his velocity.
FYI: There's nothing wrong with the OP's calculation for the change in momentum. That's not the problem.

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