An 68 kg man on ice skates is pushing his 34 kg son, also on skates, with a force of 115 N. Together, they move across the ice steadily gaining speed.

(a) What force is exerted by the boy on his father?

(b) How do the magnitudes of the two accelerations compare?

a) 115 N

b) For father acceleration = 1.69 m/s²

For son acceleration = 3.28 m/s²

Explanation:

Given that

Mass of man (M) = 68 kg

Mass of son (m) = 34 kg

F = 115 N

As we know that from third law of Newtons, It sates that every action have it reaction in opposite direction but same in magnitude.

So the force exerted by boy on father = 115 N

From Newtons second law of motion

F = m a

F=Force

m = mass

a=acceleration

For father

115 = 68 x a

a=1.69 m/s²

For son

115 = 35 x a'

a'=3.28 m/s²