Question

Two ice skaters, Paula and Ricardo, push off from each other. Ricardo weighs more than Paula.

-Which skater, if either, has the greater momentum after the push-off?

Answer 1

The ice skater with the greater mass will have the greater momentum after the push-off.

Step-by-step explanation:

The momentum of an object is directly proportional to its mass and velocity. The formula for momentum is:

Momentum = mass x velocity

When two ice skaters push off from each other, the skater with the greater mass will have the greater momentum. This is because momentum depends on both mass and velocity. Since the skaters are pushing off each other with equal force and opposite directions, their velocities will be the same, butthe skatersr with greater mass will have a higher momentum.

Answer 2

After Paula and Ricardo push off from each other, they will both have the same magnitude of momentum, but in opposite directions, due to the law of conservation of momentum.

Step-by-step explanation:

When two ice skaters, Paula and Ricardo, push off from each other, the law of conservation of momentum states that the total momentum of the system before and after the push-off remains the same. Since Paula and Ricardo have different masses, we can determine the momentum of each skater using the formula momentum = mass * velocity. Immediately after the push-off, both skaters will have equal and opposite momentum, meaning that the skater with the greater mass (Ricardo) will have a lower velocity, and the skater with the lesser mass (Paula) will have a higher velocity. However, because momentum depends on both mass and velocity, both skaters will actually have the same magnitude of momentum but in opposite directions.