Final answer:
The acceleration of the two water-skiers with a combined mass of 109 kg, being towed by a boat exerting a force of 290 N, is calculated using Newton's second law, resulting in an acceleration of 2.66 m/s^2.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about the acceleration of two water-skiers who are being towed by the same boat. To find the acceleration, we use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the force exerted on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma). Assuming the skiers are accelerating at the same rate since they are holding onto the same rope, we can combine their masses (48 kg + 61 kg = 109 kg) and set this equal to the net force divided by the total mass to find the acceleration.
The formula we use will be: a = F / m, where 'a' is the acceleration, 'F' is the net force, and 'm' is the total mass of the skiers.
Substituting the values, we get: a = 290 N / 109 kg = 2.66 m/s^2. Therefore, the skiers will accelerate at a rate of 2.66 meters per second squared.