Question

Two ice skaters collided while moving toward each other on the ice. The first skater had a mass of 42 kg and was moving to the right before the collision. The second skater was moving to the left before the collision. The force of the second skater caused the first skater to accelerate to the left at a rate of 1.5 m/s?. What force did the first skater exert on the second skater? (1 point)
• 35 N
O 45 N
• 63 N
• 28 N

Answer 1

To solve for the force exerted by the first skater on the second skater, we can use Newton's second law of motion:

\[ F = m \times a \]

where:
- \( F \) is the force,
- \( m \) is the mass,
- \( a \) is the acceleration.

The first skater has a mass of 42 kg and is accelerating to the left at a rate of \( 1.5 \, \text{m/s}^2 \). Since the acceleration is directed to the left, this will be considered a negative acceleration in the direction the first skater was initially moving (to the right).

Now, let's calculate the force exerted on the first skater due to the collision:

\[ F = m \times a \]
\[ F = 42 \, \text{kg} \times (-1.5 \, \text{m/s}^2) \]
\[ F = -63 \, \text{N} \]

The negative sign indicates the direction of the force is to the left. According to Newton's third law, the force that skater 1 exerts on skater 2 will be equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force that skater 2 exerts on skater 1.

Thus, the magnitude of the force exerted by the first skater on the second skater is:

**63 N**.

So, the answer is:

• 63 N