A student of mass 60kg stands on soft snow wearing ordinary shoes. Each shoe has a sole area of 200cm2. The snow can support a maximum pressure of 2.0×103Pa before the surface gives way.
(i) Calculate the pressure exerted on the snow when the student stands in ordinary shoes.
(ii) Decide whether the student will sink into the snow in this case and give a reason for your answer.
(iii) The student then puts on a pair of snowshoes, each having an area of 1200cm2. Calculate the new pressure on the snow.
(iv) For safe walking, the pressure on the snow must be at least 25% below the maximum value stated above. Determine the minimum total area of both snowshoes combined that would satisfy this safety margin. Hence find the minimum area of one snowshoe assuming the two are identical.