Question

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?

• A. Separation between them will increase
• B. Separation between them will decrease
• C. Both of them will fall
• D. Can’t say

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Separation between them will increase

The separation between them will increase. Initially, the momentum of both of them is zero as they are at rest. In order to 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.