During a football game, a receiver has just caught a pass and is standing still. Before he can move, a tackler, running at a velocity of 3.40 m/s, grabs and holds onto him so that they move off together with a velocity of 1.70 m/s. If the mass of the tackler is 133 kg, determine the mass of the receiver. Assume momentum is conserved.

133 kg

Explanation:

Parameters given:

Mass of tackler, m = 133 kg

Initial velocity of tackler, u = 3.4 m/s

Final velocity of tackler and receiver, v = 1.7 m/s

Since momentum is conserved, we apply the principle of conservation of momentum:

Total initial momentum = Total final momentum

mu + MU = (m + M) v

Where U = initial velocity of receiver = 0 m/s

M = mass of receiver

Therefore:

(133 * 3.4) + (M * 0) = (133 + M) * 1.7

452.2 = (133 + M) * 1.7

(133 + M) = 452.2/1.7

133 + M = 266

=> M = 266 - 133

M = 133 kg

The mass of the receiver is 133 kg.