Ice Skater Momentum Conservation · PhysicsBowl 2024 #5

Physics · mechanics

Problem

Two people on ice skates are initially at rest while facing one another. One person has a mass of 60 kg and the other 40 kg. They push off each other and move in opposite directions. If the 60-kg skater moves with a speed of 2.0 m/s, what is the speed of the 40-kg skater, assuming no external forces are acting? ms\frac{m}{s} a. 1.0 ms\frac{m}{s} b. 2.0 ms\frac{m}{s} c. 3.0 ms\frac{m}{s} d. 4.0 ms\frac{m}{s} e. 5.0 ms\frac{m}{s}

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