Two astronauts are at rest in outer space, one 20.0 m from the Space Shuttle and
ID: 2017865 • Letter: T
Question
Two astronauts are at rest in outer space, one 20.0 m from the Space Shuttle and the other 40.0 m from the shuttle. Using a 178.0-W laser, the astronaut located 40.0 m away from the Shuttle decides to propel the other astronaut toward the Space Shuttle. He focuses the laser on a piece of totally reflecting fabric on her space suit. If her total mass with equipment is 108.0 kg, how long will it take her to reach the Space Shuttle?I tried this, but it was wrong. Where is the mistake?
P=T*178.0*2/c
therefore the force = P/T
=178.0*2/c
acceleration rate a=178.0*2/c*108
=1.098*10^-9
so we have
at^2/2= 20.0 m
so t = sqrt(20.0*2/a)
= 190799.61s