Question

A 62 kg astronaut is space-walking outside the space capsule and is stationary when the tether line breaks. As a means of returning to the capsule, he throws his 3.3 kg wrench at a speed of 20.5 m/s away from the capsule. At what speed does the astronaut move toward the capsule

Answer 1

To solve this problem we must apply the concepts related to the conservation of momentum. We have the two masses of the bodies and the velocity of one of those bodies. Therefore, the initial momentum is equivalent to the final momentum. Mathematically this can be expressed as

`P_i = P_f`

`m_1_v_1 = m_2 v_2`

Replacing with our values,

`3.3kg(20.5m/s) = (62kg)v_2`

Solving for
`v_2`,

`v_2= 1.09m/s`

Therefore the speed that the astronaut move toward the capsule is 1.09m/s

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that,

Mass of astronaut

M = 62kg

Mass of wrench

m = 3.3kg

Speed at which wrench move away from the capsule

v = 20.5m/s

Speed of astronaut?

Let speed of astronaut be V

Since there is no external force, we would apply conservation of momentum

Momentum of the astronaut is equal to the momentum of the wrench

Momentum is given as

P = Mass × Velocity

P(astronaut) = P(wrench)

M×V = m×v

V = m×v/M

V = 3.3×20.5/62

V = 1.09 m/s

The astronaut speed is 1.09m/s