Answer:When a rocket is fired horizontally at 50 m/s and breaks into two equal masses, m1 and m2, the velocities of the two masses at the moment of separation can be determined using the principles of conservation of momentum and conservation of kinetic energy.
According to the principle of conservation of momentum, the total momentum of an isolated system remains constant, unless an external force is applied. This means that the total momentum of the two masses before and after the separation must be the same. Since the two masses are equal and the initial velocity of the rocket is 50 m/s, the total initial momentum of the system is 50 m/s x 2 masses = 100 m/s.
After the separation, the momentum of m1 is equal to the initial momentum of the system, since the direction of motion has not changed. This means that the velocity of m1 is 50 m/s.
The momentum of m2, however, has changed due to the deflection of 60ᴼ below the horizontal. The direction of motion of m2 is now perpendicular to the initial direction of the rocket, and the magnitude of the momentum is equal to the initial momentum of the system. Using the law of cosines, we can determine the magnitude of the velocity of m2 as follows:
v2 = (100 m/s) / (cos 60ᴼ)
v2 = 50 m/s
Therefore, the velocities of m1 and m2 at the moment of separation are 50 m/s and 50 m/s, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation: