Question

shirley knott, a 65kg astronaut holds a 12kg tank of oxygen, which she throws backwards at 2.2m/s. with what speed does she move?

Answer 1

This question involves the concepts of the law of conservation of momentum and speed.

She moves with a speed of "0.41 m/s".

Applying the law of conservation of momentum to this situation, we get:

$m_1u_1+m_2u_2=m_1v_1+m_2v_2$

where,

m₁ = mass of shirley = 65 kg

m₂ = mass of tank = 12 kg

u₁ = initial speed of shirley = 0 m/s

u₂ = initial speed of tank = 0 m/s

v₁ = final speed of shirley = ?

v₂ = final speed of tank = 2.2 m/s

Therefore,

$(65\ kg)(0\ m/s)+(12\ kg)(0\ m/s)=(65\ kg)(v_1)+(12\ kg)(2.2\ m/s)\\\\v_1=\frac{-26.4\ kg.m/s}{65\ kg}\\\\v_1=-0.41\ m/s$

negative sign shows the opposite direction.

Learn more about the law of conservation of momentum here:

brainly.com/question/1113396?referrer=searchResults