Physics (10th Edition)

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

Chapter 7 - Impulse and Momentum - Problems - Page 195: 53

Answer

Al's mass is $96kg$

Work Step by Step

At the start, Al and Jo have a combined mass $M=168kg$, and their velocity $V=0$. After they release their arms, we take Jo's direction to be positive, so $v_J=+1.2m/s$, while $v_A=-0.9m/s$ According to momentum conservation, $$m_Jv_J+m_Av_A=MV=0$$ $$1.2m_J-0.9m_A=0\ (1)$$ We also know that $m_J+m_A=M=168kg\ (2)$ Solving (1) and (2), we find that Al's mass $m_A=96kg$
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