Question

An ice skater moving at 10.0 m/s coasts to a halt in 100 m on a smooth ice surface. What is the coefficient of friction between the ice and the skates?

Answer 1

let,the combined mass of the ice skater and the skate is `M`

So,if the coefficient of frictional force is `mu`,then frictional force acting is `muN=muMg`

so,deceleration due to friction is `muMg/M=mug`

So,we can apply `v^2=u^2-2as` here for constant deceleration,

Here, `v=0,u=10,s=100` and `a=mug`

So, we get, `0^2=10^2-2mug*100`

so, `mu=100/(200*9.8)=0.051`