I'm in dire need of momentum help.

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving momentum and kinetic energy, specifically focusing on a scenario where a father and daughter push apart on skates. The original poster seeks assistance in deriving the daughter's speed after the push, as well as understanding the relationship between momentum and kinetic energy.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conservation of momentum and its application to find the daughter's speed. There are references to kinetic energy and the relationship between momentum and velocity. Some participants suggest substituting values and using known formulas to derive the necessary quantities.

Discussion Status

Several participants have offered guidance on how to approach the problem, emphasizing the conservation of momentum and the need to set up equations based on the given information. There appears to be an ongoing exploration of different aspects of the problem, including the effects of friction on the daughter's motion.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the coefficient of kinetic friction and its relevance to the daughter's sliding distance, indicating that additional calculations are necessary to fully address the problem. There is also an acknowledgment of the emotional aspect of seeking help in learning.

TheNormalForc
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If P = mv, then P^2/(2m) is:

I know the answer is Kinetic Energy, I just don't know the proof. Help?

A 70kg man and his 40kg daughter stand together on skates in the middle of a frozen lake. They push apart. Immediately after the push the father has an initial velocity of .8 m/s in on direction and his daughter has an initial velocity of v in the opposite direction.

Find the magnitude of v, the daughter's speed:


The question continues to ask for other variables and the like, which I could all calculate if I knew the daughter's speed, which I can not figure out. Please do help.
 
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I'm sure you know that [itex]E_k = 1/2 mv^2[/itex]. You can work out v in terms of momentum and substitute.

Remember that momentum is conserved. You can use this to work out the daughters speed.
 
For the first question you ask, I just answered an almost identical one here.

For the second part. You know that their momentum must be the same, but in opposite directions. Since you know the fathers momentum is mv = 70*0.8, you can set it equal to the daughters and solve for her velocity.
 
The simplicity of my delima really disheartens me, you know?

Thank you both.
 
Ah don't sweat it too much, any day you learn something new is a good day right?
 
That's true, but it's sometimes frustrating to ask for help. Atleast with the advent of the internet I can ask behind anonimity.
 
TheNormalForc said:
That's true, but it's sometimes frustrating to ask for help. Atleast with the advent of the internet I can ask behind anonimity.

I wouldn't be embarrassed or frustrated about asking for help. How else do we learn.
 
Well, while we're on the subject of helping.

If the coefficient of kinetic friction between the daughter's skates and the ice is mew = .1, how far will she slide before she is brought to a stop by the friction force?
 
TheNormalForc said:
Well, while we're on the subject of helping.

If the coefficient of kinetic friction between the daughter's skates and the ice is mew = .1, how far will she slide before she is brought to a stop by the friction force?

We help, we don't give answers :smile:. What have you tried so far or what are your thoughts about tackling this problem?
 
  • #10
I calculated that the average force exerted on the daughter is 160N, and that the magnitude of her velocity is 1.4 m/s. I know F=ma is a relevant formula to the question, but I'm stuck from that point on.
 
  • #11
TheNormalForc said:
I calculated that the average force exerted on the daughter is 160N, and that the magnitude of her velocity is 1.4 m/s. I know F=ma is a relevant formula to the question, but I'm stuck from that point on.

The average force from friction will not be 160N. The force of friction is [itex]F = \mu_k N[/itex], with N the normal force. Once you have the force you can work out the acceleration from F = ma. Then you will need to use the kinematic equations.
 

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