How far does the starship move pulling a shuttlecraft with a tractor beam?

[lvelar]

Homework Statement

A Federation starship ( 1.90×10^6 kg) uses its tractor beam to pull a shuttlecraft ( 2.00×10^4 kg) aboard from a distance of 11.0 km away. The tractor beam exerts a constant force of 4.0 x 10^4 N on the shuttlecraft. Both spacecraft are initially at rest.

How far does the starship move as it pulls the shuttlecraft aboard?

 

[LowlyPion]

Homework Statement

A Federation starship ( 1.90×10^6 kg) uses its tractor beam to pull a shuttlecraft ( 2.00×10^4 kg) aboard from a distance of 11.0 km away. The tractor beam exerts a constant force of 4.0 x 10^4 N on the shuttlecraft. Both spacecraft are initially at rest.

How far does the starship move as it pulls the shuttlecraft aboard?

Where is the center of mass of the two ship system?

 

[lvelar]

It didn't specify in the problem.

 

[LowlyPion]

It didn't specify in the problem.

Actually I was suggesting you figure it out.

When the tractor beam pulls the ship on board won't the center of mass then be in the middle of the mother ship?

By action reaction - no net external forces - how far each is before the tractor is switched on is how far they will travel then, right?