Question

A 68.5‐kg astronaut is doing a repair in space on the orbiting space station. She is at rest relative to the space station. She then throws a 2.25‐kg tool away from the space station at 3.20 m/s. With what speed and in what direction will she being to move?

Answer 1

Answer:

The velocity of astronaut will be 0.105 m/s in opposite direction of the tool.

Explanation:

Given that,

Mass of the Astronaut, m = 68.5 kg

Mass of the the tool, m' = 2.25 kg

Speed of tool, v' = -3.2 m/s (direction is sway from space station)

It is required to find the speed of the astronaut. The momentum will remain conserved. So,

$mv=m'v'$

v is the speed if Astronaut

$v=\dfrac{m'v'}{m}\\\\v=\dfrac{2.25\times (-3.2)}{68.5}\\\\v=-0.105\ m/s$

So, the velocity of astronaut will be 0.105 m/s in opposite direction of the tool.