Question

While on an interplanetary mission, a 58.5-kg astronaut is floating toward the front of her ship at 0.15 m/s, relative to the ship. She wishes to stop moving, relative to the ship. She decides to throw away the 2.50-kg book she's carrying. What should the approximate speed and direction of the book be to achieve her goal?

Answer 1

Answer:

$v_f_{book}=3.66m/sec$ towards front of the ship

Explanation:

Mass of the astronaut $m_1=58.5kg$

Mass of the book $m_2=2.5kg$

Initially common velocity of astronaut and book v = 0.15 m /sec

After throwing book astronaut will come to the rest

So final velocity of astronaut $v_f_{astronaut}=0$

We have to find the final velocity of the book

According to conservation of momentum

$(m_1+m_2)v=m_1v_f_{astronaut}+m_2v_f_{book}$

$(58.5+2.5)\times 0.15=58.5\times0+2.5\times v_f_{book}$

$v_f_{book}=3.66m/sec$ towards front of the ship