Physics 30 question about conservation of momentum

AI Thread Summary
A space person, 500m from their spacecraft with 11.32 minutes of air, throws a 5.3 kg phaser at 50.2 km/h to return. The conservation of momentum is applied to calculate the extra air time gained, with the person’s mass being 103.2 kg. Initial calculations yielded an incorrect extra air time of 0.25 minutes, while the correct answer is 0.28 minutes. Confusion arose over the addition of speeds and the mass of the phaser in the momentum equations. After clarifications and corrections, the accurate solution was confirmed.
RRmy0440
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Homework Statement


A space person is motionless a distance of 500m away from the safety of the spacecraft . The person has exactly 11.32min of air left and the person's mass is 103.2kg, including equipment. The person throws a phaser at a velocity of 50.2km/h away from the spacecraft in order to get back. I f the mass of the phaser is 5.3 kg, how many minutes of extra air does the person have when they get back to the spacecraft ?(Ans: 0.28min)

I attempted to solve it , but get the answer of 0.25min.

please help!

T

Homework Equations


Conservation and momentum.
P=mv
Ft=mv
Impulse momentum theory

The Attempt at a Solution


① m1v1+m2v2=m1v1'+m2v2'
v1'=42.97m/min

②t=500/(836.9m/min+42.97m/min) =0.57min

③d=v1't=42.97m/min *0.57min=24.42m
④d(remaining)=500m-24m=475.6m
⑤t=d/v=475.6m/ (42.97m/min)=11.07min
⑥t(remaining)=11.32-11.07=0.25min

I try to solve the question, but got the wrong answer. Could anyone help me out? Thank you so much.
 
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RRmy0440 said:
m1v1+m2v2=m1v1'+m2v2'
What values are you using for m1 and m2 here?
RRmy0440 said:
②t=500/(836.9m/min+42.97m/min) =0.57min
Please explain this calculation.
 
I would leave it in km/h till the latest possible moment (unless you've been taught differently).
 
haruspex said:
What values are you using for m1 and m2 here?

Please explain this calculation.

d=500m
t1=11.32min
m1=103.2kg
m2=5.3kg
v2'=50.2km/h=836.7m/min
 
verty said:
I would leave it in km/h till the latest possible moment (unless you've been taught differently).
If you would like to solve it with the unit km/h , please feel free to do that.
 
So do you think I am on the right track of solving this?
 
It's up to you what way you want to solve it. By the way, I got a different answer: 0.31. I don't think 0.28 is correct.

PS. Your way of doing it is confusing to me so I won't comment anymore.
 
RRmy0440 said:
m1=103.2kg
That is the mass of the astronaut including all equipment.
I still do not see any explanation for your equations.

Also, why do you add the two speeds?
 
Last edited:
verty said:
I got a different answer: 0.31. I don't think 0.28 is correct.
I get 0.28. Check you did not get -0.31. If you did, see the bold text in my post #8.
 
  • #10
haruspex said:
I get 0.28. Check you did not get -0.31. If you did, see the bold text in my post #8.
Can you please explain how did you get the right answer?
 
  • #11
haruspex said:
That is the mass of the astronaut including all equipment.
I still do not see any explanation for your equations.

Also, why do you add the two speeds?

Does it mean that the phaser is also included to have the total mass of 103.2kg?

For the reason why I added the two speeds together...I think I had been misled by another question I just done
 
  • #12
Thank you guys, i get the right answer.
 
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