A 55.6 kg ice skater is moving at 1.73 m/s when she grabs the loose end of a rope, the opposite end of which is tied to a pole. She then moves in a circle of radius 0.608 m around the pole. Find the force exerted by the rope on her arms. The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s 2. Answer in units of kN.

The force exerted by the rope on her arms is 273.7 N = 0.274 kN

Explanation:

Step 1: Data given

Mass of the ice skater = 55.6 kg

Velocity = 1.73 m/s

She then moves in a circle of radius 0.608 m around the pole.

Step 2:

Force exterted by the horizontal rope is the centripetal force acting on theice skater:

Fc = M*ac

⇒ with ac = v²/r

Fc = M * v²/r

Fc = 55.6 * 1.73²/0.608

Fc = 273.69 N

The force exerted by the rope on her arms is 273.7 N = 0.274 kN