Calculate the final velocity right after a 117 kg rugby player who is initially running at 7.45 m/s collides head‑on with a padded goalpost and experiences a backward force of 17700 N for 5.50*10-2 s

v_f = 0.87 m/s

Explanation:

We are given;

F_avg = - 17700 N (negative because it's backward)

m = 117 kg

Δt = 5.50 * 10^ (-2) s

v_i = 7.45 m/s

Now, formula for impulse is given by;

I = F•Δt = - 17700 x 5.50 * 10^ (-2) = - 973.5 kg. m/s

From impulse momentum theory, we know that;

Change in momentum of particle is equal to impulse.

Thus,

Δp = I = m•v_f - m•v_i

Thus,

-973.5 = 117 (v_f - 7.45)

Thus,

-973.5/117 = (v_f - 7.45)

-8.3205 + 7.45 = v_f

v_f = - 0.87 m/s

We'll take absolute value as;

v_f = 0.87 m/s