Why Do Floating Logs Move in the Opposite Direction When You Walk on Them?

[Fusilli_Jerry89]

Homework Statement

When you walk along a floting log in water, why does it move in the opposite direction?

Is it because of the friction from you walking pushes the log in the opposite direction, or is there something else?

 

[marlon]

Is it because of the friction from you walking pushes the log in the opposite direction, or is there something else?

Well obviously there must be some connection, no ?

You need to investigate a whole lot deeper. Your explanation is not really "what doing physics is all about", wouldn't you say ?

GENERAL HINTS :

1) think of conservation of ... (energy, "linear" momentum, etc etc)
2) what changes in the log's initial state as you walk on it (the answer is in my answer) ?

marlon