Final answer:
A person sliding into second base continues to slide past the base due to inertia and friction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason a person sliding into second base continues to slide past the base is due to inertia.
Newton's First Law of Motion states that a body in motion tends to remain in motion at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. In this case, the person sliding has a certain momentum and continues to move in the same direction until an external force, such as friction, stops their motion.
Friction is the force that opposes the motion of an object sliding or moving across a surface. When the person slides past the base, the friction between their body and the ground eventually brings them to a stop.