Question

As the space shuttle reenters our planet’s atmosphere, its speed decreases because of air friction from a reentry value V1=27500 Km/h to a landing speed V2=385 Km/h. Calculate the total heat produced by the loss of the kinetic energy. Assume only 2% of the total heat is absorbed by the shuttle and will increase its temperature. Calculate the increase in the shuttle temperature if it was made completely of steel. The shuttle mass is M=92,000 Kg and the specific heat capacity of steel is: C= 450 J/ (Kg K). Neglect the change in the potential energy.

a. 2.68E+12; 1.30E+03

b. 5.37E+12; 2.59E+04

c. 4.56E+12; 2.59E+03

d. 2.68E+12; 2.59E+03

Answer 1