An astronaut in her space suit has a total mass of m1 = 79.8 kg, including suit and oxygen tank. Her tether line loses its attachment to her spac respect to her spacecraft, she throws her oxygen tank of mass m2 = 12.0-kg away from her spacecraft with a speed v = 9.50 m/s to propel herself back toward it (see figure). m (a) Determine the maximum distance she can be from the craft and still return within 1.90 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.

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**Title: Astronaut Propulsion Problem**

**Context:**
An astronaut in her space suit has a total mass of \( m_1 = 79.8 \, \text{kg} \), including the suit and oxygen tank. During a spacewalk, her tether line loses attachment to her spacecraft. Initially at rest with respect to the spacecraft, she needs to propel herself back to it. To achieve this, she throws her oxygen tank, which has a mass of \( m_2 = 12.0 \, \text{kg} \), away from the spacecraft at a speed of \( v = 9.50 \, \text{m/s} \).

**Illustration:**
The image depicts an astronaut in space, separated from her spacecraft. The oxygen tank is shown being thrown in the direction opposite to the spacecraft, demonstrating the application of Newton's Third Law of Motion (action and reaction). There is a red arrow indicating the direction and speed at which the tank is thrown.

**Problem:**
(a) Determine the maximum distance she can be from the craft and still return within 1.90 minutes (the amount of time the air in her helmet remains breathable).

\[ \text{Distance} = \_\_\_ \text{m} \]

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

**Graph/Diagram Explanation:**
- The diagram shows the astronaut (mass \( m_1 \)) with the oxygen tank (mass \( m_2 \)) in open space.
- An arrow signifies the direction in which the oxygen tank is thrown, indicating the reactive force that will propel the astronaut towards the spacecraft.

**Educational Note:**
Use this scenario to explore conservation of momentum, where the force exerted by the tank being thrown away gives the astronaut an equal and opposite reaction force, allowing her to return to the spacecraft. Newton’s Third Law of Motion is highlighted: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Transcribed Image Text:**Title: Astronaut Propulsion Problem** **Context:** An astronaut in her space suit has a total mass of \( m_1 = 79.8 \, \text{kg} \), including the suit and oxygen tank. During a spacewalk, her tether line loses attachment to her spacecraft. Initially at rest with respect to the spacecraft, she needs to propel herself back to it. To achieve this, she throws her oxygen tank, which has a mass of \( m_2 = 12.0 \, \text{kg} \), away from the spacecraft at a speed of \( v = 9.50 \, \text{m/s} \). **Illustration:** The image depicts an astronaut in space, separated from her spacecraft. The oxygen tank is shown being thrown in the direction opposite to the spacecraft, demonstrating the application of Newton's Third Law of Motion (action and reaction). There is a red arrow indicating the direction and speed at which the tank is thrown. **Problem:** (a) Determine the maximum distance she can be from the craft and still return within 1.90 minutes (the amount of time the air in her helmet remains breathable). \[ \text{Distance} = \_\_\_ \text{m} \] (b) Explain in terms of Newton's laws of motion why this strategy works. **Graph/Diagram Explanation:** - The diagram shows the astronaut (mass \( m_1 \)) with the oxygen tank (mass \( m_2 \)) in open space. - An arrow signifies the direction in which the oxygen tank is thrown, indicating the reactive force that will propel the astronaut towards the spacecraft. **Educational Note:** Use this scenario to explore conservation of momentum, where the force exerted by the tank being thrown away gives the astronaut an equal and opposite reaction force, allowing her to return to the spacecraft. Newton’s Third Law of Motion is highlighted: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
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