The principle of conservation of linear momentum states that if in any assigned direction the net external force on a system is zero, then the linear momentum of the system will remain constant. Thus it can be concluded that if the momentum of a two-particle system is initially zero, then because of internal forces they will move in opposite directions to conserve momentum. Answer the following questions.
Suppose you are on a cart initially at rest on a frictionless track. If you throw a ball off the cart towards the left with a velocity v, will the cart be put into motion?
The principle of conservation of linear momentum states that if in any assigned direction the net external force on a system is zero, then the linear momentum of the system will remain constant. Thus it can be concluded that if the momentum of a two-particle system is initially zero, then because of internal forces they will move in opposite directions to conserve momentum. Answer the following questions.
Suppose you are on a cart initially at rest on a frictionless track. If you throw a ball off the cart towards the left with a velocity v, will the cart be put into motion?
The correct option is B Yes, and it will move to the right with same momentum
We choose the cart, man and the ball as the system. Since the ball is thrown to the left, the remaining part of the system moves in opposite direction to conserve momentum. Since it is a frictionless track the system will move towards the right. the momentum of the system towards the right will be equal to the momentum to the left. We can visualise this as :
Let the momentum of the ball thrown be mv to the left. Therefore in order to conserve momentum, the cart will move will velocity v′. The equation becomes,
mv = mv′
Yes, and it will move to the right with same momentum
We choose the cart, man and the ball as the system. Since the ball is thrown to the left, the remaining part of the system moves in opposite direction to conserve momentum. Since it is a frictionless track the system will move towards the right. the momentum of the system towards the right will be equal to the momentum to the left. We can visualise this as :
Let the momentum of the ball thrown be mv to the left. Therefore in order to conserve momentum, the cart will move will velocity v′. The equation becomes,
mv = mv′
