Question

An astronaut with a mass of `75 kg` is floating in space. If the astronaut throws an object with a mass of `8 kg` at a speed of `1/8 m/s`, how much will his speed change by?

Answer 1

`v_a=-0,01bar3" m/s"`

Explanation:

`m_a:"mass of astronaut"`
`v_a:" velocity of astronaut after event"`
`v_o:"velocity of object"`
`m_o:"mass of object"`

`0=m_a*v_a+m_o*v_o" momentum equation"`

`0=75*v_a+cancel(8)*1/cancel(8)`

`0=75*v_a+1`

`-1=75*v_a`

`v_a=-1/75`

`v_a=-0,01bar3" m/s"`