Question

Question 16
Two friends on roller-skates are standing 5 m apart facing each other. One of them throws a ball of 2 kg towards the other, who catches it, How will this activity affect the position of the two? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

The separation between them will increase. Initially, the momentum of both is zero as they are at rest. In order the conserve the momentum the one who throws the ball would move backward. The second will experience a net force after catching the ball and therefore will move backward that is in the direction of the force.