Question

A space station consists of a giant rotating hollow cylinder of mass 1×106 kg including people on the station and a radius of 100 m. It has initial angular velocity of 3.30 rpm in order to generate artificial gravity. If 100 individuals, each with an average mass of 65.0 kg spacewalk to an awaiting spaceship, determine the new angular velocity (in rpm) once all the people are off the station.

Answer 1

3.32 rpm

Step-by-step explanation:

Angular momentum is conserved:

I₁ω₁ = I₂ω₂

(Mr² + mr²) ω₁ = (Mr²) ω₂

(M + m) ω₁ = M ω₂

(1×10⁶ + 100×65.0) kg (3.30 rpm) = (1×10⁶ kg) ω

ω = 3.32 rpm