Physics (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1118486897
ISBN 13: 978-1-11848-689-4

Chapter 7 - Impulse and Momentum - Problems - Page 192: 16

Answer

a) Bonzo has the greater mass. b) $\frac{m_{Bonzo}}{m_{Ender}}=1.67$

Work Step by Step

a) The principle of conservation of linear momentum states that $$m_1v_{f1}+m_2v_{f2}=m_1v_{01}+m_2v_{02}$$ Here, 2 enemies start off from stationary positions, so the initial total linear momentum equals $0$. In other words, $$m_1v_{f1}+m_2v_{f2}=0$$ $$m_1v_{f1}=-m_2v_{f2}$$ Since $v_{Ender}\gt v_{Bonzo}$ (magnitude of velocity), from the equation above, we can deduce that $m_{Ender}\lt m_{Bonzo}$, or Bonzo has the greater mass. b) We have $$m_{Bonzo}v_{Bonzo}=-m_{Ender}v_{Ender}$$ $$\frac{m_{Bonzo}}{m_{Ender}}=-\frac{v_{Ender}}{v_{Bonzo}}=-\frac{(-2.5)}{1.5}=1.67$$
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