Question

Two astronauts of identical mass are connected by a taut cable of negligible mass, as shown in the figure above, and are initially at rest with respect to a nearby space station. Astronaut Y pulls on the cable toward herself with considerable force. Which of the following describes the direction of the velocity of the center of mass of the two astronauts after Astronaut Y pulls on the cable?

Answer 1

Answer:

The right answer is "The center of mass doesn't move".

Explanation:

• It generates a voltage throughout the cable while the astronaut falls on either the wire. At other ends of the spectrum or cable, the tension will be similar. As such, with both astronauts, there would be the same energy, although throughout the opposite way.
• Thus, the net force seems to be essentially negative on the machine. And therefore the mass center stays stationary.