An astronaut with a mass of $85 kg$ is floating in space. If the astronaut throws an object with a mass of $20 kg$ at a speed of $5/8 m/s$ , how much will his speed change by?

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Answer 1 · 2016-03-01T02:55:25

$0.15m/s$ $backward$

This can be solved using the law of conservation of momentum. The formula is:

$M_1V_1 + M_2V_2=M_1V_1' + M_2V_2'$ )

Given:

$M_1=85kg$
$V_1=0 m/s$ (at rest)
$M_2=20kg$
$V_2=0 m/s$ (at rest)
$V_2'=5/8 m/s$

Required: $V_1'= ?$

Solution:

2.Initial speeds of the astronaut and the object are zeros since both are at rest.

3.Just remember that momentum is being conserved after throwing the object $5/8 m/s$ to the space.

Answer:

$-0.15 m/s$ or $0.15 m/s backward$

An astronaut with a mass of 85 kg85 kg is floating in space. If the astronaut throws an object with a mass of 20 kg20 kg at a speed of 5/8 m/s5/8 m/s, how much will his speed change by?