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pkhor
Nov7-04, 12:25 PM
For a safe re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, the pilots of a space capsule must reduce their speed from 2.6 x 10^4 m/s to 1.1 x 10^4 m/s. The rocket engine produces a backward force on the capsule of 1.8 x 10^5 N. The mass of the capsule is 3800 kg. For how long must they fire their engine? [Hint: Ignore the change in mass of the capsule due to the expulsion of exhaust gases.]

The answer to this problem is 320 seconds, but I have no idea how to get to that answer. I just want to know the formula or theorem that I can use to solve this specific problem. Your help would be highly appreciate.

PS. sorry for my English, I'm not a native speaker.

Pyrrhus
Nov7-04, 12:40 PM
Newton's 2nd Law

\sum_{i=1}^{n} \vec{F}_{i} = \frac{d \vec{P}}{dt}

Using \vec{p} = m \vec{v}

\sum_{i=1}^{n} \vec{F}_{i} = \frac{d (m \vec{v})}{dt}

The problem states mass is constant therefore it can go out of the derivative.

\sum_{i=1}^{n} \vec{F}_{i} = m \frac{d\vec{v}}{dt}

For Finitessimals:

\sum_{i=1}^{n} \vec{F}_{i} = m \frac{\Delta \vec{v}}{\Delta t}

pkhor
Nov7-04, 01:00 PM
My course is Algebra based physics.
I can't understand Calculus, so is there any formula that based on algebra?
Thanks for your respond.

KnowledgeIsPower
Nov7-04, 01:02 PM
For a safe re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, the pilots of a space capsule must reduce their speed from 2.6 x 10^4 m/s to 1.1 x 10^4 m/s. The rocket engine produces a backward force on the capsule of 1.8 x 10^5 N. The mass of the capsule is 3800 kg. For how long must they fire their engine? [Hint: Ignore the change in mass of the capsule due to the expulsion of exhaust gases.]

Use F=Ma to find the acceleration due to the backward force. You can then find the time needed to reduce their speed to the correct value.

maxwellwest
Oct26-11, 11:11 PM
This problem involves manipulating the impulse-momentum theorem.
We know that Impulse is equal to the change in momentum (I=Δp) where change in momentum is Δp=mv(final)-mv(initial). We also know that Impulse is equal to Force*change in time (I=FΔt). Using these formulas you should be able to solve this question with ease.