Question by Eeeeeeeeeee: really hard rocket science physics problem help please!?!?
A space probe is traveling in outer space with a momentum that has a magnitude of 3.87 x 107 kg·m/s. A retrorocket is fired to slow down the probe. It applies a force to the probe that has a magnitude of 1.41 x 106 N and a direction opposite to the probe’s motion. It fires for a period of 9.55 s. Determine the momentum of the probe after the retrorocket ceases to fire.
i guess rocket science really is hard… I don’t get how to do it! Thanks!!
Best answer:
Answer by Vincent G
1 Newton is 1 kg-m/s^2
You have a force of 1.41 * 10^6 N, and it was applied for 9.55 second.
Can’t you see that multiplying the force by the duration gives a value that will be expressed in “kg-m/s”?
What do you think? Answer below!
Vincent G has it correct. If you notice that the definition of a Newton is 1 Newton = 1 Kg m/sec ^2
If you multiple Kg m/sec ^ 2 by a value in seconds, you get Kg m/sec
When you are writing exponential numbers, use the ^ (up arrow) sign to show that it is a power, so that 3.87 x 10^7.
The final answer should be 2.52345 x 10^7 kg m/sec
Please show the calculation.