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JSmith89
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Homework Statement
Two friends, Al and Jo, have a combined mass of 167kg. At an ice skating rink they stand close together on skates, at rest and facing each other, with a compressed spring between them. The spring is kept from pushing them apart, because they are holding each other. When they release their arms, Al moves off in one direction at a speed of .897 m/s, while Jo moves off in the opposite direction, at a speed of 1.09 m/s. Assuming at friction is negligible, find Al's mass.
Homework Equations
m1v1 + m2v2=0
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm at a loss about how to factor in the combined mass here. You've got v1 and v2 and a combined mass, not individual masses.
m1(.897) + m2(1.09)=0 (What do you do with these masses now??)