Answer
(a) The change in speed of a the space capsule is 0.164 m/s.
(b) The average force that the astronaut and the space capsule exert on each other is 521 N.
(c) The kinetic energy of the astronaut is 391 J and the kinetic energy of the space capsule is 25.6 J.
Work Step by Step
(a) $m_cv_c = m_av_a$
$v_c = \frac{m_av_a}{m_c}$
$v_c = \frac{(125 ~kg)(2.50 ~m/s)}{(1900 ~kg)}$
$v_c = 0.164 ~m/s$
The change in speed of a the space capsule is 0.164 m/s.
(b) $F\times t = \Delta p$
$F\times t = m_av_a$
$F = \frac{m_av_a}{t}$
$F = \frac{(125 ~kg)(2.50 ~m/s)}{(0.600 ~s)}$
$F = 521 ~N$
The average force that the astronaut and the space capsule exert on each other is 521 N.
(c) $KE_a = \frac{1}{2}(125 ~kg)(2.50 ~m/s)^2$
$KE_a = 391 ~J$
$KE_c = \frac{1}{2}(1900 ~kg)(0.164 ~m/s)^2$
$KE_c = 25.6 ~J$
The kinetic energy of the astronaut is 391 J and the kinetic energy of the space capsule is 25.6 J.
