When you throw an object away in space, why do you accelerate as well instead of just transferring all energy to the movement of the object?
In: Physics
Because that object has mass as well.
Simple example – if an object has equal mass to you and you press against it, the force applied is going to be split 50/50 between pushing the object away from you and pushing yourself away from the object.
So even a tiny object (like a ball) is going to have some mass to it, which means when you throw it, it may receive 99% of the force (because its mass is so small) which leaves 1% to be applied to you in the opposite direction, but that’s still 1% more than you had before you threw the object.
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