Final answer:
To calculate the skater's mass, we can use Newton's second law of motion, F = ma. Plugging in the given values for force and acceleration, we find the skater's mass to be 81.97 kg.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the skater's mass, we can use Newton's second law of motion, which states that F = ma, where F is the force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration. In this case, the force is the frictional force of 15 N, and the acceleration is the initial speed divided by the distance traveled. Using the formula, m = F/a, we can plug in the values to find the mass:
m = 15 N / (2.2 m/s / 12 m) = 15 N / 0.183 m/s^2 = 81.97 kg