Question

The Genesis spacecraft just crashed into the Utah desert. The craft had a speed of approximately 321 km/hr, and an approximate mass of 400 kg upon impact. If you assume that it enters the atmosphere with a speed of 16 m/s, how far did it have to fall, in meters, to achieve that speed when colliding with the ground? (Ignore air resistance) b) After impact the craft is stationary on the desert floor, what became of all the mechanical energy it had just before impact?

Answer 1