A 47.2 kg girl is standing on a 177 kg plank. The plank, originally at rest, is free to slide on a frozen lake, which is a flat, frictionless surface. The girl begins to walk along the plank at a constant velocity of 1.53 m/s relative to the plank. What is her velocity relative to the ice surface

v_g,i = 1.208 m/s

Explanation:

We are given;

Mass of girl; m_g = 47.2 kg

Mass of plank; m_p = 177 kg

Let the velocity of girl to ice be v_g,i

Let the velocity of plank to ice be v_p,i

Since the velocity of the girl is 1.53 m/s relative to the plank, then;

v_g,i + v_p,i = 1.53

From conservation of momentum;

m_g × v_g,i = m_p × v_p,i

Thus;

47.2(v_g,i) = 177(v_p,i)

Dividing both sides by 47.2 gives;

v_g,i = 3.75(v_p,i)

v_pi = (v_g,i)/3.75

Thus, from v_g,i + v_p,i = 1.53, we have;

v_g,i + ((v_g,i)/3.75) = 1.53

v_g,i(1 + 1/3.75) = 1.53

1.267v_g,i = 1.53

v_g,i = 1.53/1.267

v_g,i = 1.208 m/s

50 inches should be the resultant vector