Question

A space-walking astronaut has become detached from her spaceship. She's floating in space with her handy tool belt attached to her waist, thinking about how she might get back to the ship, which she can see 50 meters from her current location.
How can she get back to the ship? Use language from the Laws of Motion in your answer.

Answer 1

Here's a clue - if someone fires a gun, they feel a force of recoil from the gun that is in the opposite direction to the velocity of the bullet.

Answer 2

I'm still confused though.

Answer 3

if you have metals or not can you give me and this is your answer the law of motion does not work in space since there is no gravity so she just got to pull herself back

Answer 4

Thank you, both.

Answer 5

no problem

Answer 6

the laws of motion completely do work in space, gravity or no gravity
there is nothing to 'pull herself back' with - that is the problem, so what can she do to produce some motion of herself in the direction of the spaceship ?
remember she has some tools on the toolbelt

Answer 7

wait mr brain but the toolbelt has nothing that can really help her push her self back there is only she training to do it because of her jumping

Answer 8

what ??

Answer 9

olaf, if the astronaut throws one of her tools in one direction, newton's third law will ensure that she starts to move in the opposite direction.
it is the same principle that is used in rocket propulsion - fuel is ejected backwards out of the rocket, causing the rocket to move forwards

Answer 10

idk i just gtg