Question

Two swimmers relax close together on air mattresses in a pool. One of the swimmers has a mass of 48kg, and the other has a mass of 55kg. If the swimmers push away from each other, which of the following is true?

1) The swimmer with a mass of 48kg will move faster than the swimmer with a mass of 55kg
2) The swimmer with a mass of 55kg will move faster than the swimmer with a mass of 48kg
3) Both swimmers will move at the same speed
4) The speed of the swimmers cannot be determined without additional information

Answer 1

When the swimmers push away from each other, the swimmer with a mass of 48kg will move slower than the swimmer with a mass of 55kg due to the difference in mass and acceleration.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the swimmers push away from each other, the swimmer with a mass of 48kg will move slower than the swimmer with a mass of 55kg. This is because according to Newton's Third Law of Motion, the force exerted by each swimmer on the other is equal and opposite. However, since the swimmer with a mass of 48kg has less mass, they will experience a greater acceleration compared to the swimmer with a mass of 55kg, resulting in a slower speed.