An astronaut in her space suit has a total mass of m1 = 78.0 kg, including suit and oxygen tank. Her tether line loses its attachment to her spacecraft while she's on a spacewalk. Initially at rest with respect to her spacecraft, she throws her oxygen tank of mass m2 = 12.0 kg away from her spacecraft with a speed v = 9.00 m/s to propel herself back toward it (see figure).   (a) Determine the maximum distance she can be from the craft and still return within 1.80 min (the amount of time the air in her helmet remains breathable). (b) Explain in terms of Newton's laws of motion why this strategy works.

Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
5th Edition
ISBN:9781133104261
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Chapter1: Introduction And Vectors
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An astronaut in her space suit has a total mass of

m1 = 78.0 kg,

including suit and oxygen tank. Her tether line loses its attachment to her spacecraft while she's on a spacewalk. Initially at rest with respect to her spacecraft, she throws her oxygen tank of mass

m2 = 12.0 kg

away from her spacecraft with a speed

v = 9.00 m/s

to propel herself back toward it (see figure).

 

(a) Determine the maximum distance she can be from the craft and still return within 1.80 min (the amount of time the air in her helmet remains breathable).

(b) Explain in terms of Newton's laws of motion why this strategy works.

m,
m,
Transcribed Image Text:m, m,
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