Homework Question

[zeeohhsix]

I have the following hw assignment:

 

You need another person to complete this homework with you.

(1) You and your partner are standing still, closely, face to face, hand against hand initially. At this moment, what is your momentum? How do you calculate your momentum? How about your partner’s momentum?

(2) Then, you and your partner push hard against each other with both hands (be careful!). What happened? How do you explain this (which conservation law of physics)?

(3) Assume your mass is 50 kg, and your partner’s mass is 80 kg. After the push, who is moving faster? Why?

(4) Assume your partner is an apple. You two push each other by the same force in (2) or (3). What happened to the apple? Why?

 

I have answered 1-3, but am lost on question 4 - any suggestions?

[ronthepon]

You could say that the speed of the apple would be much, much greater than your speed. That's to indicate that if the speed of one object is much greater than the other, only one object gains a significant velocity.

The movement of the other object is very slow; almost insignificant.