Question

In a science fiction movie, a lone astronaut with a mass of 75 kg is stranded outside their spaceship with a thruster pack that is not working. They are stationary relative to their ship. In order to get themselves moving they throw a 2.3 kg wrench at 15 m/s in the opposite direction of the ship.A. Draw before and after pictures for the astronaut and the wrench labeling masses and velocities.B. What is the speed of the astronaut after they throw the wrench?C. If it takes them 0.12s to stop when they run into the ship, what is the impulse, average force and average acceleration they experience?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The momentum will be conserved .

M₁ V₁ =M₂V₂

2.3 x 15 = 75 x V

V = .46 m/s

velocity of astronaut will be 0.46 m/s after the throw of wrench .

Impulse = change in momentum

= 75 x .46 - 0

= 34.5 kg m/s

Impulse = force x time

34.5 = force x .12

force = 34.5 / .12

= 287.5 N

average acceleration

= force / mass

= 287.5 / 75

= 3.83 m /s²