Question

A 66.5kg astronaut is doing a repair in space on the orbiting space station. She throws a 2.30kg tool away from her at 3.10m/s relative to the space station

A) With what speed will she begin to move?
B) In what direction will she begin to move?
A) Opposite to the direction in which she throws the tool
B) To the direction in which she throws the tool

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

mass of astronaut, M = 66.5 kg

mass of tool, m = 2.3 kg

velocity of tool, v = 3.10 m/s

Let the velocity of astronaut is V.

(A) According to the conservation of moemntum

Momentum of astronaut = Momentum of tool

M x V = m x v

66.5 x V = 2.3 x 3.10

V = 0.107 m/s

(B) The direction of motion of astronaut is opposite to the direction of motion of tool.