At a time when mining asteroids has become feasible, astronauts have connected a line between their 3740-kg space tug and a 6500-kg asteroid. They pull on the asteroid with a force of 470 N. Initially the tug and the asteroid are at rest, 480 m apart. How much time does it take for the ship and the asteroid to meet?

Answer 1

each are being pulled by a force of 470N.

the acceleraration of each is 470/masseach

so relative acceleration is the sum..

arelative=470/3740+470/6500

add those.

d=1/2 a t^2 where d is 480m, and a is relative acceleration.