Calculating Final Speed of a Thrown Object with Changing Momentum

  • Thread starter quantumpanda
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In summary, when a 60kg person throws two 10kg blocks, one at a time with a speed of 5 m/s, her final speed is 1.55 m/s due to the change in her speed as she throws each block. This is less than the speed she would gain if she throws both blocks simultaneously, which would be 5/3 m/s.
  • #1
quantumpanda
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A 60kg person is holding two 10kg blocks and she throws them one at a time at 5m/s.
What is her final speed?

What I get is,
after she throws the first rock 0=70v-50 so her speed is 5/7 m/s,
and after she throws the second 5/7 *70=60v-50 so her final speed is 5/3 m/s (1.67 m/s)

But the answer says 1.55 m/s which is less than the speed she would gain if she throws the two rocks simultaneously (5/3 m/s).
What am I doing wrong?
 
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  • #2
The speed of each thrown block is 5 m/s with respect to the person. As the person's speed changes, so does the speed of a thrown block with respect to the ground.
 
  • #3
Doc Al said:
The speed of each thrown block is 5 m/s with respect to the person. As the person's speed changes, so does the speed of a thrown block with respect to the ground.

Ofcourse... thank you!
 

Related to Calculating Final Speed of a Thrown Object with Changing Momentum

What is momentum?

Momentum is a measure of an object's motion, determined by its mass and velocity. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.

How is momentum calculated?

Momentum is calculated by multiplying an object's mass by its velocity. The formula for momentum is p = mv, where p is momentum, m is mass, and v is velocity.

Why is momentum important in physics?

Momentum is important in physics because it is a conserved quantity, meaning it remains constant unless acted upon by an external force. This principle is known as the law of conservation of momentum and is essential in understanding the behavior of objects in motion.

Can momentum be negative?

Yes, momentum can be negative. Momentum is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. If an object is moving in the opposite direction to its initial velocity, its momentum will be negative.

How is momentum related to force?

Momentum is directly related to force, as stated by Newton's second law of motion which states that force is equal to the change in momentum over time. In other words, the more force applied to an object, the greater the change in its momentum will be.

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