The Starship Enterprise returns from warp drive to ordinary space with a forward

Question

The Starship Enterprise returns from warp drive to ordinary space with a forward speed of 56 km/s . To the crew's great surprise, a Klingon ship is 140 km directly ahead, traveling in the same direction at a mere 24 km/s . Without evasive action, the Enterprise will overtake and collide with the Klingons in just about 4.4 s. The Enterprise's computers react instantly to brake the ship.

What magnitude acceleration does the Enterprise need to just barely avoid a collision with the Klingon ship? Assume the acceleration is constant.

Explanation / Answer

Let us consider klingon ship is not moving and Enterprise is moving with a relative velocity ( 56-24)= 32 km/s and will approach to the klingon ship with this velocity.

Finally Enterprise need to stop to avoid the collision ie final velocity,V= 0

initial velocity, u = 32 km/s

S, distance = 140 km

a, acceleration = ?

from V2 - u2 = 2 a S

0 - ( 32*1000)2 = 2*a*140*1000

a = - 3657.14 m/s

or a = - 3.6571 km/s

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse T
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.