Simple and basic momentum and work done Qs

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving momentum and the interaction between a person and a boat. The scenario describes Mr. Green stepping off a boat, prompting questions about the resulting motion of the boat in the opposite direction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conservation of momentum and its application to the system of Mr. Green and the boat. There are inquiries about the appropriate formulas to use and the calculations involved in determining the boat's speed after Mr. Green steps off.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided hints and guidance regarding the use of momentum formulas. There is ongoing exploration of the calculations needed to find the boat's speed, with some participants questioning their own reasoning and calculations. The discussion reflects a mix of interpretations and attempts to clarify the problem without reaching a definitive conclusion.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating through potential misunderstandings regarding the application of momentum concepts and the distinction between speed and velocity. There is also mention of initial conditions and assumptions about the system's state before Mr. Green steps off the boat.

nonthesecond
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Mr Green, mass 80 kg, stepped off a boat of mass 35 kg at a speed of 3m/s. how fast did the boat move in the opposite direction?
 
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As this sounds like a homework problems I'll just give you a few hints abut the problem.

Conservation of momentum for the total system states that the momentum before and after must be equal as there are no external forces acting upon the system.

So before he steps off as I'm assuming the boat is at rest, the total momentum of the system will be 0.

So after the man steps off the boat his momentum will be equal and opposite to that of the boat as the 2 momentums will cancel out to be zero.
 
rollcast said:
As this sounds like a homework problems I'll just give you a few hints abut the problem.

Conservation of momentum for the total system states that the momentum before and after must be equal as there are no external forces acting upon the system.

So before he steps off as I'm assuming the boat is at rest, the total momentum of the system will be 0.

So after the man steps off the boat his momentum will be equal and opposite to that of the boat as the 2 momentums will cancel out to be zero.

thanks which formulae do i use?

m = mass x v

or

mom before = mom after

?
 
You can use either but probably working out the momentum of the man using p = m * v, then use that value of p to work out the momentum of the boat, v = m / p. If you were working out the velocity of the boat afterwards you would need to make momentum negative but as it only asks for the speed you can keep momentum positive.
 
rollcast said:
You can use either but probably working out the momentum of the man using p = m * v, then use that value of p to work out the momentum of the boat, v = m / p. If you were working out the velocity of the boat afterwards you would need to make momentum negative but as it only asks for the speed you can keep momentum positive.

is this correct?

80 x 3 = 240

80/240 = 0.3 (which is the velocity) so it's 0.3m/s^2
 
rollcast said:
You can use either but probably working out the momentum of the man using p = m * v, then use that value of p to work out the momentum of the boat, v = m / p. If you were working out the velocity of the boat afterwards you would need to make momentum negative but as it only asks for the speed you can keep momentum positive.

please help
 
nonthesecond said:
is this correct?

80 x 3 = 240

80/240 = 0.3 (which is the velocity) so it's 0.3m/s^2

Sorry I made a mistake rearranging the formula for velocity.

It should be v=p/m

Your calculation for the momentum is correct and you should get the right answer if you use the right formula for the velocity.
 
rollcast said:
Sorry I made a mistake rearranging the formula for velocity.

It should be v=p/m

Your calculation for the momentum is correct and you should get the right answer if you use the right formula for the velocity.

how can it be 3m/s^2 because that ids already given in the question.

i think i remeber my teacher saying that it's: 80 + 35= 115
115 x 3 = 375
375/35 = 1.3...m/s

is that correct?
 
nonthesecond said:
how can it be 3m/s^2 because that ids already given in the question.

i think i remeber my teacher saying that it's: 80 + 35= 115
115 x 3 = 375
375/35 = 1.3...m/s

is that correct?

Thats how you would calculate the initial momentum for the system as the 2 masses are together and have the same velocity.

Initial momentum for the system = m * v = (80 + 35) * 0Then you need to treat the 2 masses separate for the after stage as the 2 masses are not together anymore and will be moving in opposite directions (Newtons 3rd Law)
 
  • #10
rollcast said:
Thats how you would calculate the initial momentum for the system as the 2 masses are together and have the same velocity.

Initial momentum for the system = m * v = (80 + 35) * 0


Then you need to treat the 2 masses separate for the after stage as the 2 masses are not together anymore and will be moving in opposite directions (Newtons 3rd Law)


ok thanks so what would i have to do to find how fast the boat moved in the opposite direction?
 
  • #11
nonthesecond said:
ok thanks so what would i have to do to find how fast the boat moved in the opposite direction?

Work out the momentum for Mr Green.

p = m * v

Then use this value as the momentum for the boat (You can ignore the fact it should be opposite as we are only working out speed not velocity) Rearrange the momentum formula to work out velocity (or speed in this case).

p = m * v
v = p / m
 
  • #12
rollcast said:
Work out the momentum for Mr Green.

p = m * v

Then use this value as the momentum for the boat (You can ignore the fact it should be opposite as we are only working out speed not velocity) Rearrange the momentum formula to work out velocity (or speed in this case).

p = m * v
v = p / m

3 m/s is it squared but how can that be the answer when it's already written in the question?
 
  • #13
nonthesecond said:
3 m/s is it squared but how can that be the answer when it's already written in the question?

For the second step you need to use the mass of the boat.
 
  • #14
rollcast said:
For the second step you need to use the mass of the boat.

so it's 240/35 ? = 6.9m/s is that the final answer and it's not squared?
 
  • #15
rollcast said:
For the second step you need to use the mass of the boat.

did i get the question right?
 

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