A 121-kg astronaut (including space suit) acquires a speed of 2.90 m/s by pushin

Question

A 121-kg astronaut (including space suit) acquires a speed of 2.90 m/s by pushing off with her legs from a 1600-kg space capsule. Use the reference frame in which the capsule is at rest before the push.

A) What is the velocity of the space capsule after the push in the reference frame? B)If the push lasts 0.660 s , what is the magnitude of the average force exerted by each on the other? C)What is the kinetic energy of the astronaut after the push in the reference frame? D)What is the kinetic energy of the capsule after the push in the reference frame? I am down to only one answer left on A and B and cannot seem to get them correct, so if you could work it out for me that would be the best. Thank you.

Explanation / Answer

mass of the astronaut m1=121kg

mass of the space capsule m2=1600kg

astronaut speed v1=2.9 m/sec

a)

let,

velocity of the space capsule is v2

by using law of conservation of momentum,

m1*v1=m2*v2

121*2.9=1600*v2

===> v2=0.22 m/sec

b)

push time t=0.66 sec

use,

F*t=m1*v1

F*0.66=121*2.9

F=531.67 N

force F=531.67 N

c)

astronaut kinetic energy,

K.E=1/2*m1*v1^2

=1/2*121*2.9^2

=508.805 J

D)

capsule kinetic energy,

K.E=1/2*m2*v2^2

=1/2*1600*0.22^2

=38.72 J

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