Question

A 50,000kg comet is at rest in space. A nuclear explosion spilts the comet into two pieces. If the 35,000kg piece moves away +5m/s, what is the velocity of the second piece?

Answer 1

-11.67 m/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

The velocity of the second piece can be determined by the law of conservation of momentum, which states that the total momentum of a closed system remains constant.

Let's call the velocity of the second piece "v".

Before the explosion, the total momentum of the comet is 0 (since it is at rest). After the explosion, the total momentum of the two pieces is

(35,000 kg)(5 m/s) + (15,000 kg)(v).

Using the law of conservation of momentum, we can set these two momenta equal to each other and solve for v:

0 = (35,000 kg)(5 m/s) + (15,000 kg)(v)

0 = 175,000 kg m/s + 15,000 kg v

-175,000 kg m/s = 15,000 kg v

v = -11.67 m/s

So the velocity of the second piece is -11.67 m/s.