Final answer:
The net force acting on an ice skater moving at constant velocity is C. zero. This is consistent with Newton's first law of motion, indicating that no net external force is required to maintain constant velocity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to Newton's first law of motion, often referred to as the law of inertia, which states that an object will remain at rest or move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by a net external force.
Since the ice skater is gliding across the pond at a constant velocity, it means there is no change in the skater's speed or direction of motion. Consequently, the net force acting on the ice skater must be zero, because a nonzero net force would cause an acceleration, changing the velocity of the ice skater.
The options provided all suggest different magnitudes for the net force. Option A suggests the net force is more than the skater's weight, which would imply an upward acceleration, assuming 'weight' here means the gravitational force pulling the skater downwards. Option B implies that the net force is equal to the skater's weight, which would suggest that the skater is in free-fall, an incorrect scenario for an ice skater gliding horizontally on ice.
Option C states that the net force is zero, which aligns with an object moving at a constant velocity. Finally, Option D indicates that the net force is less than the skater's weight but greater than zero, which again would imply some form of acceleration, not consistent with constant velocity. Therefore, by understanding these principles of physics and applying Newton's first law, we can identify the correct option in the final answer as C. zero.