A wagon is rolling forward on level ground. Friction is negligible. The person sitting in the wagon is holding a rock. The total mass of the wagon, rider, and rock is 95.7 kg. The mass of the rock is 0.292 kg. Initially the wagon is rolling forward at a speed of 0.483 m/s. Then the person throws the rock with a speed of 15.9 m/s. Both speeds are relative to the ground. Find the speed of the wagon after the rock is thrown (a) directly forward in one case and (b) directly backward in another. Solution sol: The total momentum (P) before he throws the rock must equal momentum (P) after he throws the rock. Momentum is mass * velocity (or mv) a) directly forward Intial P = Final P mv = mv + mv (95.7 kg)*(0.483 m/s) = (0.292 kg.)(15.9 m/s) + (95.7 kg - 0.292 kg)(v of wagon) solving above equation we get velocity of wagon is 0.435 m/s b) directly backward Intial P = Final P mv = mv + mv (95.7 kg)*(0.483 m/s) = (0.292 kg.)(-15.9 m/s) + (95.7 kg - 0.292 kg)(v of wagon) solving above equation we get velocity of wagon is 0.533 m/s.