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 $m_2,$

$m_2 = \frac{m_1u_1}{v_2}$

$m_2 = \frac{(48)(0.62)}{0.83}$

$m_2 = 35.85Kg$

The mass from the second skater is 35.85Kg