Final answer:
Newton’s Second Law, demonstrated by skateboarding, indicates that acceleration is proportional to force and inversely proportional to mass. A skateboarder would travel the longest distance on a dry surface, as it has the least friction compared to wet or muddy conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Skateboarding demonstrates Newton’s Second Law (F = ma), which states that the acceleration of an object is dependent upon two variables: the net force acting upon the object and the mass of the object. When a skateboarder pushes off the ground, they are applying a force to the skateboard which causes it to accelerate. The force of friction between the skateboard and the surface will oppose this motion. The skateboarder will travel the longest distance under conditions with the least friction, which typically would be a dry surface because it provides less resistance compared to wet or muddy surfaces where the additional moisture and muck increase friction and slow the skateboard down more quickly.
In terms of the force of friction, a ball rolling across the ground would experience friction in the opposite direction of its motion. If a ball is rolling north to south, the frictional force acts from south to north. This force opposes the motion and gradually slows the ball down, as predicted by Newton's laws.