Question

A 60.7 kg astronaut is floating in space. She takes her 3.1 kg astronaut drill from her toolbelt and throws it to the right. It now has a momentum of p to the right and she has a momentum of _____ to the left.

Answer 1

Answer:

p to the left

Explanation:

According to law of conservation of momentum "total momentum of an isolated system remains constant".

we consider astronaut and astronaut drill as an isolated system. If the drill gain momentum p to the right so in order for momentum to remain constant the astronaut will gain the same momentum but in opposite direction i.e momentum p to the left.

Initial momentum = 0 ( before she throw astronaut belt)

Final momentum = p - p = 0 (After she throw astronaut belt)

Hence momentum of the system remains constant i.e zero.