Question

Comic-strip hero Superman meets an asteroid in outer space, and hurls it at 850 m/s, as fast as a bullet. The asteroid is three thousand times more massive than Superman. In the strip, Superman is seen at rest after the throw. Taking physics into account, what would be his recoil velocity?

Answer 1

\(MV+mv=0\) Here M=3000m and V=850 m/s.

Answer 2

Use Conservation of Momentum which states:
m1v1 = -m2v2

3000m * 850 m/s = -1m * 2,550,000 m/s

Answer 3

BTW: The above assumes that both objects were initially at rest.