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

Friday

20 September, 20:43

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?

+1

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Logan Fletcher · 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