Question

a football kick returner catches the ball just as a player from the opposing team dives to tackle him. at the time of impact, the returners momentum is 0 kg - m/s, and the diving players momentum is 130 kg - m/s. what will the magnitude of the total momentum be just after the collision? (1 point)
0 kg - m/s
130 kg - m/s
65 kg - m/s
260 kg - m/s

Explanation:

Step1: Recall momentum - conservation principle

In an isolated system, total momentum before collision equals total momentum after collision.

Step2: Calculate total initial momentum

The initial momentum of the kick - returner is $p_1 = 0$ kg - m/s and the initial momentum of the diving player is $p_2=130$ kg - m/s. The total initial momentum $p_{total - initial}=p_1 + p_2=0 + 130=130$ kg - m/s.

Step3: Determine total final momentum

By the law of conservation of momentum, $p_{total - final}=p_{total - initial}$. So, the total momentum just after the collision is 130 kg - m/s.

Answer:

130 kg - m/s