Since astronauts in orbit are apparently weightless, a clever method of measuring their masses is needed to monitor their mass gains or losses to adjust diets. One way to do this is to exert a known force on an astronaut and measure the acceleration produced. Suppose a net external force of 60.0 N is exerted and the astronaut's acceleration is measured to be 0.870 m/s2. (a) Calculate her mass (in kg). kg (b) By exerting a force on the astronaut, the vehicle in which they orbit experiences an equal and opposite force. Discuss how this would affect the measurement of the astronaut's acceleration. Propose a method in which recoil of the vehicle is avoided.

a) m = 69.0 kg

b) release some gas in the opposite direction to the astronaut's movement

Explanation:

a) Let's use Newton's second law

         F = m a

         m = F / a

         m = 60.0 / 0.870

         m = 69.0 kg

b) when we exert a force on the astronaut it acquires a momentum po, as the astronaut system plus spacecraft is isolated, the momentum is conserved

         p₀ = p_f

         m v = M v '

         v ’=

so we see that the ship is moving backwards, but since the mass of the ship is much greater than the mass of the astronaut, the speed of the ship is very small.

One method to avoid this effect is to release some gas in the opposite direction to the astronaut's movement so that the initial momentum of the astronaut plus the gas is zero and therefore no movement is created in the spacecraft.