A sled of mass 5.98 kg is coasting along on a frictionless ice-covered lake at a constant speed of 1.42 m/s. A 1.98-kg book is dropped vertically onto the sled. At what speed does the sled move once the book is on it?

1 answer

It moves at a speed that conserves linear momentum.

5.98*Vinitial = (5.98 +1.98)*Vfinal

Solve for Vfinal