Question

Two astronauts (figure), each having a mass of 74.0 kg, are connected by a

d = 11.0-m

rope of negligible mass. They are isolated in space, orbiting their center of mass at speeds of 5.30 m/s.

Two astronauts are connected by a taut horizontal rope of length d. They rotate counterclockwise about the center of mass CM at the midpoint of the rope.

(a) Treating the astronauts as particles, calculate the magnitude of the angular momentum of the two-astronaut system.
kg · m²/s

(b) Calculate the rotational energy of the system.
kJ

(c) By pulling on the rope, one astronaut shortens the distance between them to 5.00 m. What is the new angular momentum of the system?
kg · m²/s

(d) What are the astronauts' new speeds?
m/s

(e) What is the new rotational energy of the system?
kJ

(f) How much chemical potential energy in the body of the astronaut was converted to mechanical energy in the system when he shortened the rope?
kJ

Answer 1