Claudia and Marco are standing face-to-face on two skateboards. They both have e

Question

Claudia and Marco are standing face-to-face on two skateboards. They both have equal mass of 66 kg (including the skateboards). Claudia throws a 8.4-kg bowling ball to Marco. The ball is moving at a speed of 6.3 m/s between the students (ignore that the ball will slighly drop. Also ignore any friction on the skateboards.)

What is Claudia's speed after having thrown the ball?

What is Marco's speed after having caught the ball?

You should have noticed that Claudia's and Marco's speeds are similar but not equal. Why is that?

Below answer with Marco's speed.

Explanation / Answer

M = mass of marco = mass of claudia = 66 kg

V = velocity of claudia

v = velocity of ball = 6.3 m/s

m = mass of ball = 8.4 kg

using conservation of momentum for claudia and ball

0 = MV + m v

0 = 66 V + 8.4 (6.3)

V = - 0.802 m/s

Claudia's speed = 0.802 m/s

V' = velocity of ball and marco after catching

using conservation of momentum for marco and ball

mv = (M + m ) V'

8.4 x 6.3 = (66 + 8.4) V'

V' = 0.71 m/s

marco's speed = 0.71 m/s

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