A 175lb man, initially at rest at A on a floating platform, starts walking to th

Question

                    A 175lb man, initially at rest at A on a floating platform, starts walking to the right with a constant speed Vo=3 ft/s relative to the platform until he                     reaches the right end of the plateform at B. The plateform is attached to the pier by a rope that is initally slack but that becomes taut before the man                     reaches B. Neglecting any resistance to the motion of the plateform due to the water, determine the impulse provided to the person/plateform system by the rope                     when the rope becomes taut.                 

                    Please show all steps

Explanation / Answer

Initially when the rope is slack, the net change in the momentum of the system (man + platform) is zero. As soon as the rope becomes taut, the man generates a momentum equal to m*v, but the platform doesn't generate equal and opposite momentum. So net change in momentum is equal to m*v. Therefore impulse acted = change in momentum =M*v = 175*3 = 525 lb.ft/s

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