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- Homework Statement
- A 1500 kg weather rocket accelerates upward at 10.0 m/s^2. It explodes 2.00 s after liftoff and
breaks into fragments. One piece is twice as massive as the other. Photos reveal that the
lighter fragment travelled straight up and reached a maximum height of 530 m. What was the
speed and direction of the heavier fragment just after the explosion?
- Relevant Equations
- pi = pf
m1v1i + m2v1i = m1v2f + m2v2f
vf = vi +at
d = vit + 1/2at^2
vf^2 = vi2 + 2ad
PEi + KEi = PEf + KEf
-Solved for vf using equation 3 to get 20.0m/s (speed before explosion) then solved for the distance to reach the explosion using equation 4, to get 20.0m, which felt wrong having the same numbers but that may just be coincidence.
-Found the distance travelled of the lighter piece using 530m - 20.0m to get 510m travelled after the explosion.
-Stuck trying to use equation 6 to find inital velocity.
Stuck with the remainder of the question.
EDIT: Found masses using Mtotal = m1 + m2, & m2 = 2m1, thefore m1 = 500kg and m2 = 1000kg.
-Found the distance travelled of the lighter piece using 530m - 20.0m to get 510m travelled after the explosion.
-Stuck trying to use equation 6 to find inital velocity.
Stuck with the remainder of the question.
EDIT: Found masses using Mtotal = m1 + m2, & m2 = 2m1, thefore m1 = 500kg and m2 = 1000kg.
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