An astronaut on a space walk floats a little too far away from the space station. Without air to push against, he cannot paddle back. However, the astronaut is holding a hammer. Explain how the astronaut could use the hammer to move and why this will get him back to the space station.

Answer 1

In a microgravity environment, such as in space, the astronaut can utilize Newton's third law of motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the astronaut wants to move toward the space station, he can throw the hammer away from himself.

Here's how it works:

1. Throwing the Hammer: The astronaut grips the hammer firmly and throws it away from himself in the opposite direction of the space station. Since there is no air resistance in space, the hammer will continue to move away from him.

2. Recoil Effect: According to Newton's third law, when the astronaut exerts a force on the hammer to throw it, the hammer exerts an equal and opposite force back on him. This means that as the hammer moves away, the astronaut will be pushed back toward the station.

3. Movement Toward the Space Station: The force exerted by throwing the hammer will create a small but effective movement in the opposite direction, gradually propelling the astronaut back toward the space station.

4. Fine Maneuvering: If the astronaut is still too far and requires more control, he can also use the hammer to push against the station once he gets close enough. He can gently tap or push against the surface of the space station to adjust his trajectory and guide himself back more accurately.

In summary, by throwing the hammer, the astronaut creates a movement in the opposite direction, allowing him to return toward the space station. This action demonstrates the principles of motion and force in a vacuum, effectively utilizing the tools available to navigate in space.