Question

The space shuttle launches an 840-kg satellite by ejecting it from the cargo bay. The ejection mechanism is activated and is in contact with the satellite for 4.8 s to give it a speed of 0.30 m/s. The mass of the shuttle is 91700 kg and it is initially at rest. What is the average force exerted by the ejection mechanism on the satellite during the contact time?

1) 0.25 N
2) 2.5 N
3) 25 N
4) 250 N

Answer 1

To find the average force exerted by the ejection mechanism on the satellite, you can use the formula Average Force = Change in Momentum / Time. First, calculate the final momentum by multiplying the mass of the satellite by its final velocity. Then, subtract the initial momentum (which is zero) from the final momentum to find the change in momentum. Finally, divide the change in momentum by the contact time to find the average force.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the average force exerted by the ejection mechanism on the satellite, we can use the formula: Average Force = Change in Momentum / Time.

First, we need to find the change in momentum of the satellite. The initial momentum of the satellite is zero since it is initially at rest. The final momentum can be found using the formula Momentum = Mass x Velocity. Plugging in the values, we get: Final Momentum = (840 kg) x (0.30 m/s).

Next, we can calculate the change in momentum by subtracting the initial momentum from the final momentum. Lastly, we can divide the change in momentum by the contact time of 4.8 seconds to find the average force exerted by the ejection mechanism.