Question

Two ice skaters stand facing each other at rest on a frozen pond. They push off against one another and the 48 kg skater acquires a speed of 0.62 m/s. If the other skater acquires a speed of 0.83 m/s, what is her mass in kilograms?

Answer 1

To solve this problem it is necessary to apply the concepts related to conservation of the moment.

By definition for the particular case we have to,

`m_1u_1 = m_2v_2`

Where,

`m_1 =` Mass first skater

`u_1 =` Speed of first skater

`v_2 =` Velocity of second skater

Our values are given as,

`m_1= 48Kg`

`u_1 = 0.62m/s`

`v_2 = 0.83m/s`

Replacing in our equation and re-arrange to find
`m_2,`

`m_2 = (m_1u_1)/(v_2)`

`m_2 = ((48)(0.62))/(0.83)`

`m_2 = 35.85Kg`

The mass from the second skater is 35.85Kg