- #1
Patdon10
- 85
- 0
Homework Statement
An 80 kg spacewalking astronaut pushes off a 640 kg satellite, exerting a 100 N force for the 0.50s it takes him to straighten him his arms. How far apart are the astronaut and the satellite after 1.0 min?
2. The attempt at a solution
F = Ma. Two different masses and two different accelerations. Because of Newton's 3rd law we know that the force the astronaut exerts on the satellite is equal to the force the satellite exerts on the astronaut.
F = (80)aastronaut
aastronaut = 1.25 m/s^2
F = 640kg(asatellite
asatellite = 640/100 = 0.156 m/s^2
Distance astronaut travels:
D = (1/2)(1.25)60^2 = 2250 m
D = (1/2)(.156)60^2 = 281.25 m
Total distance I got was ^ = 2531m, which is way wrong.
The correct answer is 42 m. Can anyone point me in the right direction?