View Single Post
  #19  
Old 11-23-2005, 03:38 PM
goofball goofball is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 43
Default Re: More silly physics fun

When I first read the question I understood it to be the cart is next to the wall but seperate from it. You also make it unclear whether or not we catch the balls after we throw them. This leaves 4 cases.

Case 1: Detached wall, we don't catch the balls

As you threw the balls off you and the card would move in the opposite direction under the laws of conservation of momentum. You would gain speed m(ball)/m(cart)*vball for each ball.

Case 2: Detached wall, catching the ball.

You would gain the above velocity each time you threw a ball, and again each time you caught one.

Case 3 Attached wall, not catching the ball.

You would move opposite the direction if your initial throws. The ball bounces off the wall and heads off in the other direction, behinid you. You will move opposite the final motioni of the ball.

Case 4 Attached wall, catching the ball

After you do everything you will be again sitting on the cart with a bunch of motinoless balls. You must also be motionless.
Reply With Quote