Question

A 75.0-kg ice skater moving at 10.0 m/s crashes into a stationary skater of equal mass. After the collision, the two skaters move as a unit at 5.00 m/s. Suppose the average force a skater can experience without breaking a bone is 4 500 N. If the impact time is 0.100 s, does a bone break?

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Momentum change for either skater is mΔv = 75.0(5.0) = 375 kg•m/s

As a change in momentum is equal to an impulse

375 = FΔt

F = 375/0.100 = 3750 N

As 3750 N < 4500 N no bones are broken.