Question - Softball Player Sliding Across Infield Dirt and Forces Involved

When a softball player is sliding across the infield dirt, there are several forces acting upon the player. Assuming the player is moving to the right, the types of forces and their relative magnitudes would typically include:

Gravity: Acting downward with a magnitude proportional to the mass of the player. This is a constant force.

Normal force: Acting upward exerted by the ground on the player, equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to gravity when no vertical acceleration is present.

Friction: Acting to the left, opposite the direction of motion, with a magnitude dependent on the coefficient of friction between the player and the dirt and the normal force.

The gravitational force and the normal force are usually equal in magnitude if there is no vertical acceleration. Friction is typically less than these forces for a sliding object unless the coefficient of friction is exceptionally high.