Calculating Mass of Expelled Gas in Space Probe Course Correction

In summary, a 7.660 x 10^3 kg space probe is traveling at 110 m/s and needs to make a 30.0° course correction. Mission control instructs the probe to fire rockets perpendicular to its direction of motion, with gas expelled at a speed of 3.200 km/s. The question asks for the mass of gas that should be released, and the approach suggested is to consider the law of conservation for linear momentum and determine the relationship between initial and final momentum.
  • #1
Farcry25
4
0

Homework Statement


A space probe with a mass of 7.660 103 kg is traveling through space at 110 m/s. Mission control decides that a course correction of 30.0° is needed and instructs the probe to fire rockets perpendicular to its present direction of motion. If the gas expelled by the rockets has a speed of 3.200 km/s, what mass of gas should be released?


Homework Equations


i don't know that's what i need help on, i have no idea what equations to use for this its the only problem on my home work that makes no sense to me, some one please help me
 
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  • #2
What method should you approch this question?
 
  • #3
i have no idea man i know it has something to do with the conservation of momentum but i don't know much more
 
  • #4
Farcry25 said:
i have no idea man i know it has something to do with the conservation of momentum but i don't know much more

I think you should determined the relationship between the initial momentum and the final momentum and I think from there, you can determine the mass of the expelled gas. Think about the law of conservation for linear momentum.
 

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