Impact pressure (enough info?)

  • Thread starter Thread starter fire
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Impact Pressure
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around estimating impact pressure from orbiting space junk colliding with a spacecraft at 25,000 mph. Participants suggest that while there may not be enough specific information to solve the problem directly, using arbitrary values for unknowns based on common sense could be a viable approach. The second part of the question, regarding the consequences if the spacecraft's material yield strength is lower than the impact pressure, does not require detailed calculations. Overall, the consensus is that estimation and logical assumptions are key to addressing the problem. The conversation highlights the challenges of working with incomplete data in physics problems.
fire
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Hi, I need help solving this problem. On one hand, I think that there's not enough information to solve it, on the other hand, I think there has to be a way to cancel out all the information that's not provided, and do the problem with only what's given. But I can't come up with a way to solve it. Conservation of momentum has too many unknown variables.

"Orbiting space junk hits a spacecraft at low-earth orbital speed of 25,000 mph. Estimate the impact pressure. Also, what will happen if the spacecraft 's material's yeild strength is lower than this impact pressure?"

Thanks
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Given the use of the word 'estimate' in part one, I would guess that you're expected to use arbitrary values for your unknowns, based upon common sense.

As for part two, well, no calculation is needed...
 
Yeah, that's what I ended up doing.
 

Thread 'Race car suspension Class'

Posted June 2024 - 15 years after starting this class. I have learned a whole lot. To get to the short course on making your stock car, late model, hobby stock E-mod handle, look at the index below. Read all posts on Roll Center, Jacking effect and Why does car drive straight to the wall when I gas it? Also read You really have two race cars. This will cover 90% of problems you have. Simply put, the car pushes going in and is loose coming out. You do not have enuff downforce on the right...
View full post »
Thread 'Physics of Stretch: What pressure does a band apply on a cylinder?'

Thread 'Physics of Stretch: What pressure does a band apply on a cylinder?'

Scenario 1 (figure 1) A continuous loop of elastic material is stretched around two metal bars. The top bar is attached to a load cell that reads force. The lower bar can be moved downwards to stretch the elastic material. The lower bar is moved downwards until the two bars are 1190mm apart, stretching the elastic material. The bars are 5mm thick, so the total internal loop length is 1200mm (1190mm + 5mm + 5mm). At this level of stretch, the load cell reads 45N tensile force. Key numbers...
View full post »

Thread 'Cantilever help'

I'm trying to decide what size and type of galvanized steel I need for 2 cantilever extensions. The cantilever is 5 ft. The space between the two cantilever arms is a 17 ft Gap the center 7 ft of the 17 ft Gap we'll need to Bear approximately 17,000 lb spread evenly from the front of the cantilever to the back of the cantilever over 5 ft. I will put support beams across these cantilever arms to support the load evenly
View full post »

Similar threads

Time to empty gas cylinder (problem worked, but would like feedback)
Replies
7
Views
3K
Finding Force and Energy from an indentation into a volume
Replies
24
Views
3K
Predicting Remaining Pressure in Compressed Gas Cylinder
Replies
3
Views
3K
I How to Calculate force exerted on a falling body?
Replies
12
Views
3K
Estimating Impact Force from Rotating Shaft on Collar
Replies
3
Views
3K
Pressure, diameter and flow in a pneumatic system
Replies
6
Views
5K
Determine velocity of a fluid - not enough info given?
Replies
14
Views
3K
I Modeling a (rotating) mass impact on a preloaded (rotational) spring
Replies
3
Views
1K
Calculate the pressure drop of air across an orifice?
Replies
1
Views
4K
Static Pressure in relation to CFM
Replies
7
Views
10K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top