A spacecraft of mass M moving with a velocity V in free space and explodes and breaks into two. After explostion a mass m of spacecraft is left stationary.what is the velocity of other part ?
Answers & Comments
tanishqsingh
Before explosion, mass of space craft = M velocity = V momentum = MV
after explosion, mass of one part = m velocity = 0 mass of other part = M-m velocity = v = ? momentum = m-0 + (M-m)v =(M-m)v
Answers & Comments
mass of space craft = M
velocity = V
momentum = MV
after explosion,
mass of one part = m
velocity = 0
mass of other part = M-m
velocity = v = ?
momentum = m-0 + (M-m)v =(M-m)v
conserving momentum,
MV = (M-m)v
⇒ v = MV/(M-m)
∴ Velocity of other part is MV/(M-m)
Verified answer
Applying Law of conservation of momentum, Pi=MV. Pf=mv₁+(M-m)v₂. Given v₁=0 => Pf=(M-m)v₂ Fext=0 ⇒Pi=Pf ⇒MV=(M-m)v₂ ⇒v₂=