a 59kg physics student jumps off the back of her laser sailboat (42kg). after she jumps the laser is found to be travelling at 1.5m/s. what is the speed of the physics student?

From the conservation of linear momentum of closed system,

Initial momentum = final momentum

Mass of the student, M = 59 kg

Mass of the laser boat, m = 42 kg

Initial speed of student + laser boat, u = 0

Final speed of laser boat, v = 1.5 m/s

Final speed of the student = V

(M+m) u = M V + m v

0 = (59 kg) V + (42 kg) (1.5m/s)

V = - 1.06 m/s

Thus, the speed of the student is 1.06 m/s in the opposite direction of the motion of boat.