Question
A 87.2 kg astronaut is working on the engines of a spaceship that is drifting through space with a constant velocity. The astronaut turns away to look at Earth and several seconds later is 44.2 m behind the ship, at rest relative to the spaceship. The only way to return to the ship without a thruster is to throw a wrench directly away from the ship. The wrench has a mass of 0.411 kg, and the astronaut throws the wrench with a speed of 24.1 m/s.
How long does it take the astronaut to reachthe ship?
please show the steps
How long does it take the astronaut to reachthe ship?
please show the steps
Answers
He has to close a gap of X = 44.2 m. Use conservation of momentumn to get his velocity relative to the ship, V, after he throws the wrench.
0.411*24.1 = 87.2 * V
The time required is X/V.
0.411*24.1 = 87.2 * V
The time required is X/V.