Question

1. Because you are a fan of science and science fiction, you always follow what’s going on with the space program, and now you have landed an internship with SpaceX, the private company that has been developing reusable rockets. Your task today is to analyze some failure data from a prior mission that went wrong. The 2.1 x 106 kg capsule was orbiting at a constant speed of 6.5 x 106 m/s when its’ fuel system blew up. One piece, with mass 4.0 x 105 kg, is blown straight backward with a speed of 2.2 x 106 m/s. Another piece, with mass 7.7 x 105 kg, travelled forward, but at a 20° angle from its’ original path, at a speed of 1.2 x 105 m/s. What are the speed and direction of the third piece immediately after the capsule blew up? I have this so far? How do you finish this problem?

m3=M-m1-m2=2.1x106-4.0 x 105-7.7x105=9.3x105kg

Σpo= Σpf            

Σp0x= Σpfx

Answer 1