A father (mF = 83 kg) and his daughter (mD= 43 kg) stand on a flat frozen lake of negligible friction. They hold a 13 m long rope stretched between them. The father and daughter then pull the rope to bring them together. If the father is initially standing at the origin, how far from the origin will they meet?

Question

What equation would I use to determine this?

Answer 1

conservation of momentum, first collary.

the center of gravity does not change if it was still before.

CG= (0*83+13*43 )/(83+43)

and it does not move. That is where they will meet.