Two ice skaters approach each other at right angles. Skater A has a mass of 68.2 kg and travels in the x direction at 2.48 m/s. Skater B has a mass of 34.4 kg and is moving in the y direction at 1.18 m/s. They collide and cling together. Find the final speed of the couple. Answer in units of m/s.

1.70 m/s

Explanation:

The computation of the final speed of the couple is shown below:

initial momentum of A is

= mv

= 68.2 × 2.48

= 169.136 kg

And, the initial momentum of B is

= mv

= 34.4 × 1.18

= 40.592 kg

Now magnitude is

= sqrt( A^2 + B^2)

= sqrt( 28,606.99 + 1,647.71)

= 173.94

Now the final speed is

= 173.94 ÷ (68.2 + 34.4)

= 1.70 m/s