A64-kg astronaut is in space, far from any objects that would exert a significan

Question

A64-kg astronaut is in space, far from any objects that would exert a significant gravitational force on him. He would like to move toward his spaceship, but his jet pack is not functioning. He throws a720-g socket wrench with a velocity of5m/s in a direction away from the ship. After 0.50 s, he throws an800g spanner in the same direction with a speed of8m/s. After another 9.90 s, he throws a mallet with a speed of6m/s in the same direction. The mallet has a mass of1140g. How fast is the astronaut moving after he throws the mallet?
m/s

Explanation / Answer

Work out the momentum of all the thrown objects. This will equal the mans momentum. Because we know his mass we can work out his velocity, since momentum is conserved, and by throwing the things we will experience an equal but opposite force, or equal and opposite momentum. Time is irrelevant in this scenario since there is no friction to consider (in space). p=mv (momentum=mass*velocity) Momentum (total): .720*5+.800*8+1.14*6=16.84 N m^-1 Momentum (man)=Momentum (total of objects) 64*v=16.84 v=0.263 m/s

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