Splitting an Asteroid: Calculating Alterations in Course with Explosive Charge

[TheTourist]

An explosive charge breaks up an asteroid into two pieces, of 2x10¹²kg and 3x10¹²kg respectively. If the first alters course by 2ms^-1, by how much does the second alter course?



I really don't know where to start on this. It must be about conservation of momentum, but i don't get how to do this without an angle or initial speed.

 

[tiny-tim]

Welcome to PF!

Hi TheTourist! Welcome to PF!

The laws of physics work in any inertial frame, so choose whatever inertial frame makes the calculations easiest.

In this case, choose the rest frame of the asteroid …

then its initial speed is zero, and the fragments will go at opposite angles.

 

[TheTourist]

Thats great thanks, got the exam this morning so that was some good advice!