3. An astronaut (60 kg) is adrift far from her ship when the crew leaves her behind flying 10 m/s. All she has with her are two empty jet packs (20 kg each). She knows that, because of conservation of momentum, throwing the jet packs will propel her. a. If she threw the jet packs at the same time, how fast would she have to throw them in order to catch the space ship? In what direction would she have to throw them? b. If she threw them in sequence, one after another, at the same velocity (relative to her velocity) as in part (a), what would her final velocity be? c. What is the cause of the discrepancy? Consider what the final velocities of the jet packs are when thrown sequentially.

College Physics
11th Edition
ISBN:9781305952300
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Chapter1: Units, Trigonometry. And Vectors
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1CQ: Estimate the order of magnitude of the length, in meters, of each of the following; (a) a mouse, (b)...
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3. An astronaut (60 kg) is adrift far from her ship when the crew leaves her behind flying 10 m/s.
All she has with her are two empty jet packs (20 kg each). She knows that, because of
conservation of momentum, throwing the jet packs will propel her.
a. If she threw the jet packs at the same time, how fast would she have to throw them in
order to catch the space ship? In what direction would she have to throw them?
b. If she threw them in sequence, one after another, at the same velocity (relative to her
velocity) as in part (a), what would her final velocity be?
c. What is the cause of the discrepancy? Consider what the final velocities of the jet packs
are when thrown sequentially.
Transcribed Image Text:3. An astronaut (60 kg) is adrift far from her ship when the crew leaves her behind flying 10 m/s. All she has with her are two empty jet packs (20 kg each). She knows that, because of conservation of momentum, throwing the jet packs will propel her. a. If she threw the jet packs at the same time, how fast would she have to throw them in order to catch the space ship? In what direction would she have to throw them? b. If she threw them in sequence, one after another, at the same velocity (relative to her velocity) as in part (a), what would her final velocity be? c. What is the cause of the discrepancy? Consider what the final velocities of the jet packs are when thrown sequentially.
Expert Solution
Step 1

mass of astronaut = 60 kg mass of each empty jet  = 20 kg number of empty jets = 2 the speed of flying jet = 10 m/s 

 

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