A space vehicle is traveling at 5900 km/h relative to the Earth when the exhausted rocket motor is disengaged and sent backward with a speed of 93 km/h relative to the command module. The mass of the motor is four times the mass of the module. What is the speed of the command module relative to Earth just after the separation?
2007-03-04 08:46:30 · 1 answers · asked by x2carlosp 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Momentum before = momentum after
(4*m + m)*5900 km/hr = 4*m*(5900 - 93) km/hr + m*(5900+v) km/hr
Solve for v
Hmm. Interpretation problem: Is the 93 km/h relative to the command module measured after the separation? Seems likely. If so it's more complicated. Here's what it probably takes to set it up.
(4*m + m)*5900 km/hr = 4*m*(5900 - v1) km/hr + m*(5900+v2) km/hr
v1 + v2 = 93 km/hr
2007-03-04 14:07:38 · answer #1 · answered by sojsail 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋