momentum is conserved, and since two pieces are in the direction of initial movement, the third cannot be in another track, it has to be in the same direction
Momentum:
2.1E6*5E6=4.8E5*(-2.3E6)+8.4E5*1E6+(2.1E6-4.8E5-8.4E5)V
solve for V
A spaceship of mass 2.1×10^6 kg is cruising at a speed of 5.0×10^6 m/s when the antimatter reactor fails, blowing the ship into three pieces. One section, having a mass of 4.8×10^5 kg , is blown straight backward with a speed of 2.3×10^6 m/s . A second piece, with mass 8.4×10^5 kg , continues forward at 1.0×10^6 m/s .
What is the speed of the third piece? Assume that the initial speed of the ship is positive
1 answer