Physics (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1118486897
ISBN 13: 978-1-11848-689-4

Chapter 7 - Impulse and Momentum - Problems - Page 192: 20

Answer

The percentage of gas ejected is $9.5\%$

Work Step by Step

At the start, the system of the astronaut, the propulsion unit and the gas inside is at rest, so there is no total momentum, or $\sum\vec{p_0}=0$ During the space walk, the gas (with mass $m$) is ejected and has the velocity $\vec{v_f}=+32m/s$. The astronaut and the propulsion unit (mass $M=165kg$) recoils with $\vec{V_f}=-0.39m/s$ The principle of conservation of linear momentum states that $$m\vec{v_f}+M\vec{V_f}=\sum\vec{p}_0=0$$ $$m_{ejected}=\frac{-M\vec{V_f}}{\vec{v_f}}=2kg$$ The total mass of gas in a completely filled propulsion unit is $m_{gas}=m_{gas\_left}+m_{ejected}=(165kg-146kg)+2kg=21kg$ Therefore, the percentage of gas ejected is $\frac{2}{21}\times100\%=9.5\%$
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