What Happens to Velocity and Momentum of a Water-Filled Bucket on Ice?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the physics of a water-filled bucket sliding on ice, specifically analyzing the effects of mass on velocity and momentum. As the bucket fills with water, its mass increases, leading to a decrease in velocity while its momentum remains constant due to the absence of external forces. This confirms that momentum is a conserved quantity in this scenario, as demonstrated by the equation P=mv, where an increase in mass results in a proportional decrease in velocity.

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Homework Statement



A bucket full of water is slid across a sheet of ice in the rain. As the bucket fills, what happens to its velocity and its momentum? ( assume no friction)

Homework Equations



P=mv

The Attempt at a Solution

I reasoned that since the bucket gained mass it gained momentum and that since no force acted on the bucket in the horizontal direction v stayed constant.

Answer given: velocity decreases and momentum remains constant
Does this means momentum is a conserved quantity?
 
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ortegavs said:

Homework Statement



A bucket full of water is slid across a sheet of ice in the rain. As the bucket fills, what happens to its velocity and its momentum? ( assume no friction)

Homework Equations



P=mv

The Attempt at a Solution

I reasoned that since the bucket gained mass it gained momentum and that since no force acted on the bucket in the horizontal direction v stayed constant.

Answer given: velocity decreases and momentum remains constant
Does this means momentum is a conserved quantity?

What would happen if instead, the bucket was moving along at a constant velocity and without interfering with the bucket or the ice, you were able to suck water out of the bucket?
 
ortegavs said:

The Attempt at a Solution

I reasoned that since the bucket gained mass it gained momentum and that since no force acted on the bucket in the horizontal direction v stayed constant.

ortegavs said:
Answer given: velocity decreases and momentum remains constant
Does this means momentum is a conserved quantity?

Yes momentum is a conserved quantity.

If initially it has momentum p=m1v1

and after it has p=m2v2

Then m2v2=m1v1 or v2 = (m1/m2)v1

So if m2 increases then v2 will decrease.
 

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