Two ice dancers are at rest on the ice, facingeach other with their hands togeth

Question

Two ice dancers are at rest on the ice, facingeach other with their hands together. They push off on each otherin order to set each other in motion. The subsequent momentumchange (magnitude only) of the two skaters will be____. Also write it’s(the answer youchoose) detailreason.                                                                                              

A. greatest for the skater who is pushed upon withthe greatest force

B. greatest for the skater who pushes with thegreatest force

C. the same for each skater

D. greatest for the skater with the mostmass

E. greatest for the skater with the leastmass        

Explanation / Answer

Answer: C

In this situation, the force on the first ice dancer is the sameas the force on the second ice dancer (Newton's third law ofmotion). And these forces act for the same amount of time to causeequal impulses on each skater. Since impulse is equal to momentumchange, both skaters must also have equal momentum changes. Themass of the individual skaters will only effect the subsequentvelocity change.

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