Catcher Sliding on Ice: An Optimistic Momentum Puzzle

What is the speed at which the catcher slides on the ice after catching the baseball?

With what speed does the catcher slide on the ice?

Answer:

The speed at which the catcher slides on the ice after catching the baseball is 12.80 m/s.

When a 149 kg baseball moving at 17.7 m/s is caught by a 57 kg catcher at rest on an ice skating rink, the catcher begins to slide on the ice due to the conservation of momentum. Since the skates are frictionless, the momentum of the system is conserved.

Using the formula for the conservation of momentum, MaVa + MbVb = (Ma + Mb)(Va+b), we can find the final velocity of the catcher after catching the baseball. In this case, Ma represents the mass of the baseball (149 kg), Va represents the initial velocity of the baseball (17.7 m/s), Mb represents the mass of the catcher (57 kg), and Vb represents the initial velocity of the catcher (0 m/s, as he is at rest).

By plugging in the given values and solving the equation, we find that the catcher slides on the ice with a speed of approximately 12.80 m/s after catching the baseball. This demonstrates the principle of momentum conservation in action, showcasing the transfer of momentum from the baseball to the catcher.