Question

A man of mass m1 = 64.5 kg is skating at v1 = 7.60 m/s behind his wife of mass m2 = 53.0 kg, who is skating at v2 = 3.80 m/s. Instead of passing her, he inadvertently collides with her. He grabs her around the waist, and they maintain their balance.

(a) Sketch the problem with before-and-after diagrams, representing the skaters as blocks.

(b) Is the collision best described as elastic, inelastic, or perfectly inelastic? elastic inelastic perfectly inelastic

Why?

(c) Write the general equation for conservation of momentum in terms of m1, v1, m2, v2, and final velocity vf.

(d) Solve the momentum equation for vf. (Use the following as necessary: m1, v1, m2, v2. Do not substitute numerical values; use variables only.) vf =

(e) Substituting values, obtain the numerical value for vf, their speed after the collision. In m/s

Answer 1