Question

Comic-strip hero Superman meets an asteroid in outer space and hurls it at 800 m/s, as fast as a bullet. The asteroid is a thousand times more massive than Superman. In the strip, Superman is seen at rest after the throw. Taking physics into account, what would be his recoil speed (in km/s)?

Answer 1

800km/s

Step-by-step explanation:

Initial momentum = final momentum

the total momentum is zero, Before the release of the asteroid , but Superman and the asteroid are not moving.

So, according to the Conservation of momentum the total momentum when the astronaut is been thrown will equals to zero . Then we can say

Initial momentum = final momentum

Because the momentum of the Superman immediately the asteroid is been thrown is equal to the momentum of the asteroid

Momentum =(mass ×velocity)

the mass of the asteroid i= 1000M

Given velocity = 800 m/s,

momentum =(1000M)(800 m/s)

= 800,000M m/s.

to get the answer, we need to divide by Superman's mass, M, which gives his recoil velocity of 800,000 m/s.

But we're told to convert to km/ s

We know that 1m/s=0.001km/s

=(800,000M m/s)× (0.001km/s)

=800km/s

Therefore, his recoil speed (in km/s) is 800km/s