Final speed of a rotating spaceship

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the final speed of the rotating spaceship Discovery after a burst from its engine, one must consider the force applied, mass, and time. The force of 20 kN acting on a mass of 30,000 kg over 3 minutes results in acceleration, which can be calculated using Newton's second law (F = ma). The acceleration can then be used to determine the change in speed over the given time period. The expected final speed, according to the book, is 24,400 km/h, indicating that the calculations need to account for the increase in velocity due to the engine's burst. Properly applying the equations of motion will yield the correct final speed.
Susanne217
Messages
311
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Lets imagine that in the movie 2010. The Discovery is rotating then they find it. Every time the ship reaches a speed in the circular motion of 24000 km/h the engine gives a burst of energy. Which amounts to 20 kN. The mass of the Discovery is 30.000 kg. The time from the engine gives a burst amounted to the above size to the ships engine going to sleep is 3 minutes.
How do I calculate the extra speed v_final which is achieved by the engine burst after the three minutes. Necletecting all other forces?

Is there a specific formula?

According to my book. the answer is suppsed to be 24400 km/h.

I have to tried to the formula

F = 1/2 \cdot m v_f^2 - 1/2 \cdot m v_i^2

But using that formula I arrive at v_final = v_initial.

What am I doing wrong?

Sincerely
Susanne
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Your scenario has the information: acceleration force (20 kN), mass (30 ton) and time (180 seconds); and you want to calculate the resulting change of speed. A way forward could be to figure out how force and mass relates to acceleration and how (constant) acceleration relates to change in speed.
 
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'
Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Back
Top