An astronaut in space cannot use a scale or balance to weigh objects because the

Question

An astronaut in space cannot use a scale or balance to weigh objects because there is no gravity. But she does have devices to measure distance and time accurately. She knows her own mass is 86.6kg , but she is unsure of the mass of a large gas canister in the airless rocket. When this canister is approaching her at 3.40m/s , she pushes against it, which slows it down to 1.20m/s (but does not reverse it) and gives her a speed of 2.40m/s .

Part A

What is the mass of this canister?

Part B

How much kinetic energy is

Explanation / Answer

m1*v1 + m2*v2 = (m1+m2)*V

Since F=ma
Let x be mass of canister
speed decrease = 3.40m/s-2.40m/s=1 m/s
force imparted = 2.40*86.6 = 207.84 units
207.84=x*1.00
x=193.5/1.00=193.5kg
B. loss in kinetic energy = 0.5(m1+m2)*V^2 - 0.5*m1*v1^2 - 0.5*m2*v2^2

m1 = 193.5 , v1 = 3.4 , m2 = 86.6 kg , v2 = 1.2 m/s and put the other values

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