A 30kg student pushes a 20kg box on a frictionless surface. If student accelerates at 0.80 m/s^2, what is acceleration of the box. My question is why does the box accelerate in opposite direction of the boy, and how does the frictionless surface affect this question?

Answer 1

The total momentum must be conserved. If the boy slides away to the left, the box must move to the right, since momentum is a vector quantity.

Answer 2

thanks, why does total momentum need to be conserved?

Answer 3

The question says (remember newton's third law), so how does that come in to play, if u push a box shouldnt it just move in the direction u push it in. why does it accelerate in opposite direction of student

Answer 4

Thanks!!! :D