Zero accerlation for spacewalking astronaut and sattelite?

In summary, the conversation discusses the acceleration and distance between an 8-kg astronaut and a 640-kg satellite during a spacewalk. The astronaut exerts a force of 100N for 0.5s to push off the satellite, and after losing contact, there is no acceleration. However, there is confusion about why the acceleration is considered to be 0 after contact.
  • #1
BadaBadi
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1. An 8- kg spacewalking astronaut pushes off a 640 kg satellite, exerting 100N force for the 0.5s it takes to straighten his arms. How far apart are they after 1 minute?



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3. So, I calculated the the accelration of the spaceman and the satelite during contact. My school has the solutions of the problems posted ( its an old assignment), and what I don't understand is that they calculate the accerlation and also the final velocities but then they go on to calculate the distance after contact with 0 accerlation. I don't understand why they take the accerlation after the contact to be 0. Sorry if it sounds like a stupid question
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF, Bada.
While his hand is pushing on the spacecraft the spacecraft pushes back on his hand according to Newton's 3rd law. This force causes him to accelerate. After his hand loses contact, there is no pushing, no force on the astronaut so he doesn't accelerate.
 
  • #3
.I would like to clarify that there are two different scenarios being discussed here - one involving the acceleration of the spacewalking astronaut and satellite during contact, and the other involving the distance between them after 1 minute.

In the first scenario, the acceleration of the astronaut and satellite during contact can be calculated using the equation F=ma, where F is the force exerted, m is the mass of the object, and a is the acceleration. In this case, the astronaut exerts a force of 100N and the combined mass of the astronaut and satellite is 648kg. Therefore, the acceleration during contact is 100N/648kg = 0.154 m/s^2.

In the second scenario, after the contact, the acceleration of the astronaut and satellite becomes 0. This is because once the astronaut pushes off the satellite, there are no other external forces acting on them and they continue to move at a constant velocity. This is known as the law of inertia, which states that an object will remain at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force.

To calculate the distance between the astronaut and satellite after 1 minute, we can use the equation s=ut+0.5at^2, where s is the distance, u is the initial velocity (which is 0 in this case), a is the acceleration, and t is the time. Since the acceleration is 0, the distance between the astronaut and satellite after 1 minute will simply be 0.5at^2 = 0.

I hope this explanation helps to clarify any confusion. It is important to remember that in physics, different scenarios can have different equations and principles applied to them, and it is essential to carefully consider the context and conditions of the problem at hand.
 

FAQ: Zero accerlation for spacewalking astronaut and sattelite?

1. What is zero acceleration for a spacewalking astronaut and satellite?

Zero acceleration, also known as microgravity, is the state in which the gravitational pull on an object is equal to the centripetal force acting on it. In the context of spacewalking astronauts and satellites, this means that they are in a state of freefall, where the force of gravity is balanced out by their orbital velocity.

2. How does zero acceleration affect a spacewalking astronaut and satellite?

Zero acceleration can have various effects on a spacewalking astronaut and satellite. For the astronaut, it can cause a feeling of weightlessness and disorientation, while for the satellite, it can impact its trajectory and orbit. Additionally, zero acceleration can also affect the equipment and experiments being carried out by the astronaut and satellite.

3. What are the challenges of zero acceleration for spacewalking astronauts and satellites?

The challenges of zero acceleration for spacewalking astronauts and satellites include the physiological and psychological impacts on the astronauts, as well as the technological and operational challenges for the satellite. Microgravity can also make tasks and movements more difficult for astronauts, and can affect the performance and accuracy of satellite instruments.

4. How do astronauts and satellites achieve zero acceleration?

Astronauts and satellites achieve zero acceleration through their orbital velocity and trajectory. For astronauts, this means being in a state of constant freefall around the Earth, while for satellites, it involves being in a stable orbit around the planet. Achieving zero acceleration also requires precise calculations and adjustments to counteract external forces such as air resistance and gravitational perturbations.

5. Can zero acceleration be simulated on Earth?

Yes, zero acceleration can be simulated on Earth through parabolic flights, where an aircraft follows a specific trajectory to create temporary periods of microgravity. This is often used for training spacewalking astronauts and testing satellite equipment in a controlled environment. Other methods of simulating zero acceleration include drop towers and neutral buoyancy tanks.

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