- #1
cmmcnamara
- 122
- 1
Homework Statement
A rocket explodes into two fragments with the following information:
Initial trajectory: 150 m/s in the x-direction, mass is 40kg
Portion a, post explosion: 45 degree angle above the horizontal, 25kg
Portion b, post explosion: 30 degree angle below the horizontal, 15kg
Homework Equations
Conservation of momentum
The Attempt at a Solution
pi=150(m/s)*40kg=6000 kgm/s
pa=Va[cos 45, sin 45]*25kg=Va(17.68+17.68[j])kg
pb=Vb(cos 30, -sin 30[j])*15kg=Vb(12.99-7.5[j])kg
By conservation of momentum: pi=pa+pb
Two equations in two unknowns:
17.68*Va+12.99*Vb=6000
17.68*Va-7.5*Vb=0
Solving these gives me:
Va=124.2 m/s
Vb=292.8 m/s
However this is wrong, the answer should be:
Va=43.92 m/s
Vb=146.41 m/s
What am I doing wrong here? This is such a simple problem I am reviewing for the EIT, but I cannot for the life of me find out what's wrong and I am getting all the other momentum problems correct. Is the solutions manual incorrect?
Thank you in advance for the help!