An ice skater of mass 80 kg is initially at rest on a smooth horizontal rink
PHYSICS · Subjective · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
An ice skater of mass 80 kg is initially at rest on a smooth horizontal rink. She throws a 5.0 kg medicine ball horizontally so that the ball leaves her hands with a speed of 8.0 m s⁻¹ relative to the ground. The force she applies on the ball can be considered uniform over a time interval of 0.40 s.
(i) Determine the average horizontal force exerted by the skater on the ball.
(ii) Calculate the recoil speed acquired by the skater immediately after releasing the ball.
(iii) Assuming no external horizontal forces act after the throw, find the separation between the skater and the ball 2.0 s after the instant of release.