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Ch 11: Impulse and Momentum
Chapter 11, Problem 11

Fred (mass 60 kg) is running with the football at a speed of 6.0 m/s when he is met head-on by Brutus (mass 120 kg), who is moving at 4.0 m/s. Brutus grabs Fred in a tight grip, and they fall to the ground. Which way do they slide, and how far? The coefficient of kinetic friction between football uniforms and Astroturf is 0.30.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Conservation of Momentum

The principle of conservation of momentum states that in a closed system, the total momentum before an interaction is equal to the total momentum after the interaction. In this scenario, Fred and Brutus collide and stick together, so we can calculate their combined momentum to determine their initial velocity after the collision.
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Kinetic Friction

Kinetic friction is the force that opposes the motion of two surfaces sliding against each other. It is calculated using the coefficient of kinetic friction and the normal force. In this case, the coefficient of kinetic friction between the football uniforms and the Astroturf will help determine how far Fred and Brutus slide after they fall.
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Newton's Second Law of Motion

Newton's Second Law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass (F = ma). This law is essential for calculating the deceleration caused by friction once Fred and Brutus are sliding on the ground, allowing us to determine how far they will slide before coming to a stop.
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