Question

An astronaut whose mass is 80. kg and is initially at rest carries an empty oxygen tank with a mass of 10. kg. He throws the tank away from himself with a speed of 2.0 m/s. With what velocity does he start to move off into spa

Answer 1

Answer:

0.25 m/s

Explanation:

From the law of conservation of momentum

Mu+ mu = Mv' + m v

M= mass of the astronaut = 80 kg

m= mass of the oxygen tank= 10 Kg

v= speedof the tank 2 m/s

u= initial velocity of the system= 0

If we substitute the values, we have

( 80× 0 )+(10×0)= [(80 x v )+ (10 x 2)]

0= 80v + 20

-20=80v

v= -0.25 m/s ( we have a negative value because the astronaut and the motion of the cylinder are in opposite direction)

Hence the velocity the astronaut start to move off into space is 0.25 m/s