Question

Asteroid A has a mass of 7.80×1020 kilograms (kg), and asteroid B has a mass of 3.70×1018 kg. Assuming that the same force was applied to both (a shock wave from a supernova, for example), what would be the ratio of A’s acceleration to B’s acceleration?

Answer 1

The ratio of asteroid-A’s acceleration to asteroid-B’s acceleration is 37:7800.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mass of asteroid-A = m =
`7.80* 10^(20) kg`

Mass of asteroid-B = m' =
`3.70* 10^(18) kg`

As we know , Force = mass × Acceleration

1) Force on an asteroid-A

`F = m* a`

where , a is the acceleration due to force applied on asteroid-A

2) Force on an asteroid-B

`F' = m'* a'`

where , a' is the acceleration due to the force applied on asteroid-B

Same force is exerted on the both the asteroids say F.

F = F'

`m* a=m'* a'`

`(a)/(a')=(3.70* 10^(18) kg)/(7.80* 10^(20) kg)=(37)/(7800)`

The ratio of asteroid-A’s acceleration to asteroid-B’s acceleration is 37:7800.