- #1
richard karn
- 4
- 0
Homework Statement
In figure (a), a 5.4 kg dog stands on a 16 kg flatboat at distance D = 6.1 m from the shore. It walks 2.1 m along the boat toward shore and then stops. Assuming no friction between the boat and the water, find how far the dog is then from the shore.
Homework Equations
Center of mass = (x1m1 + x2m2)/(m1+m2)
The Attempt at a Solution
Since the center of mass can't change i set the two equal.
x1 (position of dog) = 6.1
x2 (center of canoe) = x
(6.1*5.4 + 16x2)/21.4 =
(5.4*(6.1-2.1) + 16(x2+Δcom))/21.4
which gives the change in the center of mass of the boat is .70875 so the dog only moves 2.1-.70875 and starting 6.1 meters away he is 4.70875 but that's wrong