Chapter 8, Problem 48A

If you topple from your treehouse, you'll continuously gain momentum as you fall to the ground below. Doesn’t this violate the law of conservation of momentum? Defend your answer.

To determine

To Explain: In the given situation, the law of conservation of momentum is not violated.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The change in momentum or the product of force and time interval is called impulse.

The law of conservation of momentum is not applicable on an object since an outside object like the earth is exerting an impulse on the object. When the object and the earth are in contact with each other then, the law of conservation of momentum is applicable on it since no external impulses act on the system. Here, the object gains momentum as the force of earth pulls object and earth gains equal and opposite momentum on impact. The earth’s momentum is not noticeable because Earth gets very small velocity only due to its large mass.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the given condition is not violating the conservation law of momentum.