a 91.5 kg football player running east at 2.73 m/s tackles a 63.5 kg player running west at 3.09 m/s. what…

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate initial momentum

According to the law of conservation of momentum (p = m_1v_1 + m_2v_2). Let the east - direction be positive. So (m_1 = 91.5\space kg), (v_1=2.73\space m/s), (m_2 = 63.5\space kg), (v_2=- 3.09\space m/s). [ \begin{align*} p&=(91.5\times2.73)+(63.5\times(-3.09))\ &=250.7 - 196.2\ &=54.5\space kg\cdot m/s \end{align*} ]

Step2: Calculate total mass

(M=m_1 + m_2=91.5 + 63.5=155\space kg)

Step3: Calculate final velocity

Since (p = Mv), then (v=\frac{p}{M}) [v=\frac{54.5}{155}\approx0.352\space m/s]

Answer:

(0.352\space m/s)