Two people are standing on a 3.03-m-long platform, one at each end. The platform

Question

Two people are standing on a 3.03-m-long platform, one at each end. The platform floats parallel to the ground on a cushion of air, like a hovercraft. The two people, the platform and a 3.91-kg ball are all initially at rest. One person throws the 3.91-kg ball to the other, who catches it. The ball travels nearly horizontally. Excluding the ball, the total mass of the platform and people is 172 kg. Because of the throw, this 172-kg mass recoils. How far does the platform move before coming to rest again?

Explanation / Answer

do it by centre of mass method. let centre of mass be xcom = 172 X x1 + 3.91 X x2 / 175.91 now, after the ball has been thrown, xcom = 172 X x1 + 3.91 X( x2+ 3.03) / 175.91 since there are no external forces acting, the com doesnot shift. so, the coms are equal. 172 X x1 + 3.91 X x2 = 172 X x3 + 3.91 X( x2+ 3.03) x3- x1 = 0.0688 m

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