A girl is standing on a smooth surface and kicks a tall skinny box (1 m x 20 cm)

Question

A girl is standing on a smooth surface and kicks a tall skinny box (1 m x 20 cm) very hard
25 cm above the bottom left corner as shown and in a horizontal direction. The distribution
of mass in the box is uniform, and in the middle of the box is an X. The kick is hard enough
to cause the box to slide along the ground while rotating. Describe whether the X initially
moves to the right or the left and explain why, citing basic principles such and Newton's
laws, and conservation of energy.

Always will rate back :)

Explanation / Answer

Let P stand for the impulse given by the kick. As she kicks the left side of the box, the impulse must be to the right. Change in momentum = impulse. The motion of the center of mass is to the right. The X is at the center of mass so it will be moving to the right.

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