An astronaut with a mass of 85 kg is outside a space capsule when the tether line breaks. to return to the capsule, the astronaut throws a 2.0 kg wrench away from the capsule at a speed of 14 m/s. at what speed does the astronaut move toward the capsule?

Question

Physics

Sandra Davis

19 July, 14:06

An astronaut with a mass of 85 kg is outside a space capsule when the tether line breaks. to return to the capsule, the astronaut throws a 2.0 kg wrench away from the capsule at a speed of 14 m/s. at what speed does the astronaut move toward the capsule?

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Answers (1)

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Lucian Huffman · Answer 1

In this case momentum is conserved and therefore;

M1V1 = M2V2

M1 = 85 kg, V1 = ?, M2 = 2 kg, V2 = 14 m/s

85 kg * V1 = 2 kg * 14 m/s

85 V1 = 28

V1 = 0.3294 m/s

Therefore; the speed of the astronaut towards the capsule is 0.3294 m/s