Final answer:
To calculate the figure skaters' acceleration, apply Newton's second law by subtracting the opposing forces from the applied force and dividing by their combined mass, resulting in an acceleration of 1.28 m/s².
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject matter revolves around Newton's second law of motion, which states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting upon it and inversely proportional to its mass. For instance, to answer the question about the figure skater and her partner with combined masses of 40 kg and 50 kg, respectively, you would subtract the opposing forces (5.0 N) from the applied force (120 N) and then divide by the total mass. The resultant acceleration can be found using the formula a = (F - f) / m, where a is the acceleration, F is the applied force, f is the sum of opposing forces, and m is the mass.
Applying the formula yields the acceleration as a = (120 N - 5.0 N) / (90 kg), which simplifies to a = 115 N / 90 kg = 1.28 m/s².