karthus
contestada

a 1385 kg cannon containing a 58.5 kg cannon ball is on wheels. the cannon fires the cannon ball giving it a velocity of 49.8 m/s north. what is the initial velocity of the cannon the instant after it fires the cannon ball?

Respuesta :

Conservation of momentum requires that the sum of momenta after is equal to that before.  Since initially nothing is moving, the sum after the shot will also add to zero. 
m₁v₁ = -m₂v₂

Solve for the cannon's velocity v₁

v₁ = -m₂v₂/m₁ = -2.10m/s

The negative sign means it's moving 2.10m/s south.