Understanding Impulse and Reaction in Physics

How do the impulse and reaction affect two girls of different masses on roller skates?

Impulse and Reaction Explanation

In this scenario, we have two girls with masses of 50.0kg and 70.0kg who are on frictionless in-line skates. The larger girl pushes the smaller girl, causing her to roll away at a speed of 10.0m/s. This action results in specific consequences for both girls.

Firstly, the reaction on the larger girl is that she reaches a velocity of -7.14 m/s. This negative value indicates the direction of her movement after applying the force on the smaller girl.

The impulse that each girl exerts on each other is equal to 500 kgm/s but in opposite directions. The smaller girl exerts a positive impulse of 500 kgm/s in the direction of her movement, while the larger girl experiences a negative impulse of -500 kgm/s.

Understanding the Physics Behind the Scenario

Newton's third law of motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the larger girl pushes the smaller girl, she accelerates the smaller girl to a speed of 10.0 m/s. At the same time, the larger girl experiences an equal acceleration in the opposite direction.

According to Newton's second law of motion, force is equal to mass times acceleration. When calculating the velocity of the larger girl, we use the formula v = -10m/s * (50kg / 70kg) = -7.14 m/s.

The impulse experienced by each girl is calculated by multiplying their mass by their respective velocity. The smaller girl exerts a positive impulse of 500 m*kg/s, while the larger girl receives a negative impulse of -500 m*kg/s.

These values illustrate the conservation of momentum and the equal but opposite forces acting on the two girls in this physics scenario. Understanding impulse and reaction is crucial in analyzing the motion of objects and the interactions between them.