Nick J.

asked • 02/09/15

acceleration

explain why a skier accelerates while the earth does not seem to move at all

Vivian L.

The earth is not accelerating.  It is moving at a constant speed of 1042 miles/hour.  The skier is accelerating.
 
If you are on a train at a train station and your train and another are side-by-side moving at the same speed or accelerating at the same speed, it will appear that you are not moving.  However, any difference in velocity or acceleration between these two trains will render your sensation of movement.
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02/09/15

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Michael J. answered • 02/09/15

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Another factor that causes the skier to accelerate is the acceleration due to gravity.  This is represented by the variable g=9.81 m/s2 and this force acts downward on the Earth.  That is why objects on the Earth never float or stay up in the air, unless something is acting against gravity.
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Jon P. answered • 02/09/15

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Actually, the earth and the skier are both accelerating.  The skier and the earth exert an equal and opposite gravitational force on each other.
 
However, the mass of the earth is so huge that the force that the skier exerts is too small to cause any noticeable change in its motion.
 
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Michael J.

This phenomenon is an example of Newton's Third Law:  All forces come in pairs when two bodies come in contact with each other.
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