Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 7 - Linear Momentum - Questions - Page 190: 5

Answer

Consider the fish and water as our system. The swishing tail pushes water backward. The system’s momentum is conserved. The moving water gains momentum one way, and the fish gains momentum the other way, i.e., it moves in the opposite direction, or forward.

Work Step by Step

This situation may also be analyzed in terms of Newton’s third law.
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