Conservation of Momentum Spaceship Question

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a conservation of momentum problem involving a spaceship. Initially, the spaceship has a mass of 10012 kg and is at rest, with a 1000 kg part ejected at 112 m/s. The correct approach involves applying the conservation of momentum formula, leading to the realization that the remaining mass of the spaceship is 9012 kg. After correcting the calculations, the speed of the other part of the spaceship is determined to be -12.43 m/s. The importance of correctly identifying the masses and applying the conservation principle is emphasized throughout the discussion.
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Homework Statement


The mass of a spaceship is 10012 kg. The spaceship is at rest. Then one part of the ship with a mass of 1000 kg is ejected and emerges with a speed of 112 m/s. What is the speed of the other part?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I tried:
pi=pf
mivi=mfv2
10012 (vi)= 1000 kg * 112 m/s
solved for vi and got 11.19 m/s.
Am I correct? or did i need to assume the other part of the spaceship is 12 kg?[/B]
 
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You have to apply conservation of momentum here, where pf is the sum of the momenta of the two pieces of the ship.
 
so would it be :
pi=pf
mivi = m1v1 + m2v2
(10012 kg)(0 m/s) =m1v1 + m2v2
0= (1000 kg)(112 m/s)+ (12 kg) (v2)
v2 = -9333.3 m/s
 
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That's more like it! Include some directions and you are golden. :)
 
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Is the original post accurate? What do you get when you subtract one thousand from ten thousand?
 
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Good point.
 
jbriggs444 said:
What do you get when you subtract one thousand from ten thousand?
oh man... i totally messed up there, thank you so much for the correction! m2 will then = 9012
(10012 kg)(0 m/s) =m1v1 + m2v2
0= (1000 kg)(112 m/s)+ (9012 kg) (v2)
v2 = -12.43 m/s
 
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