Accepted Answer
Force = (mass) x (acceleration)Acceleration = (force) / (mass)Acceleration of the luge = (500 N) / (30 kg) = 16 and 2/3 m/s²After accelerating at that rate for 5 sec, its speed is (16-2/3) x (5) = 83-1/3 m/s .(I pause slightly at this point, to reflect that this thing is now moving at about 186 miles per hour. I question that, and I check my work. I reassure myself with two thoughts: 1). Maybe those things really do move at that kind of speeds. I don't know. 2). I was given the numbers, and I didn't make them up, so I'm only responsible for the math, not for the plausibility of the solution.) So the luge is moving at 83-1/3 m/s when he jumps on. In order to maintainthat force against it for 5 seconds, he had to accelerate himself to almost-if-not-totally the same speed ... necessary, no matter how implausible. So, although it hasn't been mentioned, the pusher is also doing an enormousamount of other work just to accelerate himself, and when he jumps aboard,his own velocity already matches that of his luge. I'm going to say thatafter the jump, they continue on, together, coupled as one, at the same speed as just before the jump.Their speed together is 83-1/3 m/s .We can't state their velocity, because no information is given regarding the direction of the track.