The recoil velocity of the launcher is 1.6 m/s west.
When two bodies of different masses move together each other and have head on collision, they travel to same or different direction after collision.
A water-balloon launcher with mass 5 kg fires a 1 kg balloon with a velocity of 8 m/s to the east.
Final momentum will be zero, so
m₁u₁ +m₂u₂ =0
Substitute the values for m₁ = 5kg, m₂ =1kg and u₂ =8 m/s, then the recoil velocity will be
5 x v +1x8 = 0
v = - 1.6 m/s
Thus, the recoil velocity of the launcher is 1.6 m/s (West)
Learn more about conservation of momentum principle
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