Question

An astronaut is performing EVA (extra-vehicular activity - this is NASA-speak for a space walk) near the International Space Station (ISS) when her jet pack malfunctions. There are two objects within her reach that she can use to propel herself back to the safety of the ISS. Object A has her mass M, and object B has a mass of 10 middot M (ten times greater). Which object should she push on to achieve a given momentum towards the ISS - that is, which one requires less work to get the same impulse? Assume the astronaut and both objects are initially at rest with respect to the ISS. Explain your reasoning. (Remember that work is force times distance and think about how the two objects move when pushed.)

Answer 1

she have to push object A to achive given momentum. Object A require less work.

hoor le d ore lhen She apply a re om objcct A tho distana W mg mg abfeet then dtonu sh pushes batle eA mons large disten