Two campers dock a canoe. One camper has a mass of 100.0 kg and moves forward at 3.0 m/s as he leaves the canoe to step onto the dock. With what speed do the canoe and other camper move if their combined mass is 225.0 kg?

V = - 1.33 m/s

Explanation:

Given,

The mass of the camper, m = 100 kg

The velocity of the camper, v = 3.0 m/s

The combined mass of canoe and another camper, M = 225 kg

The velocity of the combined canoe and another camper, V = ?

According to the law of conservation of momentum,

MV + mv = 0 (Since the initial momentum of the dock is 0)

V = - mv/M

= - 100 x 3/225

= - 1.33 m/s

The negative sign indicates that the combined objects moves opposite to that of the camper.

Hence, the velocity of the combined canoe and camper is, V = - 1.33 m/s