Chapter 4: Q4-91GP (page 75)
A 72-kg water skier is being accelerated by a ski boat on a flat (鈥済lassy鈥) lake. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the skier鈥檚 skis and the water surface is \({\mu _k} = 0.25\) (Fig. 4鈥74). (a) What is the skier鈥檚 acceleration if the rope pulling the skier behind the boat applies a horizontal tension force of magnitude \({F_T} = 240\;{\rm{N}}\) to the skier \(\left( {\theta = 0^\circ } \right)\)? (b) What is the skier鈥檚 horizontal acceleration if the rope pulling the skier exerts a force of \({F_T} = 240\;{\rm{N}}\) on the skier at an upward angle \(\theta = 12^\circ \)? (c) Explain why the skier鈥檚 acceleration in part (b) is greater than that in part (a).

Short Answer
The obtained values of acceleration in parts (a) and (b) are \(a = 0.88\;{\rm{m/}}{{\rm{s}}^2}\) and \(a = 0.9\;{\rm{m/}}{{\rm{s}}^2}\), respectively.



