Two ice skaters stand at rest in the center of an ice rink. When they push off against one another the 61-kg skater acquires a speed of 0.63 m/s .

If the speed of the other skater is 0.86 m/s , what is this skater's mass?

2 answers

momentum is zero before so zero after.

61*.63 + m* -.86 = 0
note speeds are opposite so velocity of one or the other is negative

m = 61 (.63/.86)
32. Two ice skaters stand at rest in the center of an ice rink. When they push off against each 45-kg skater acquires a speed of 0.62 m/s. If the speed of the other skater is 0.89 m/s, what is that skater's mass?