Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

(a) A satellite, initially at rest in deep space, separates into two pieces whic

ID: 1698220 • Letter: #

Question

(a) A satellite, initially at rest in deep space, separates into two pieces which move away from each other. One piece has a rest mass of 190 kg and moves away with a speed of .280c, and the second piece moves in the opposite direction with a speed of .600c. What is the rest mass of the second piece?

(b) A space tow pushes on a satellite with a rest mass of 15,000 kg and accelerates it from a speed of .600c to a speed of .700c. How much work does the tow have to do to accomplish this?

(c) A moving object's total relativistic energy is twice its rest energy. It's length (in the direction of travel) must therefore be: one half its proper length. (Explain why)

Explanation / Answer

total momentum is zero. so 190*0.28c/sqrt(1-0.28^2)=M*0.6c/sqrt(1-0.6^2) so M=74(kg) -------------- it is 15000*c^2*(1/sqrt(1-0.7^2)-1/sqrt(1-0.6^2))=2.03e20(J) -------------- we have that. M*c^2/sqrt(1-(v/c)^2)=2*Mc^2. so sqrt(1-(v/c)^2)=1/2. we know the equation of length. l'=l*sqrt(1-(v/c)^2)=l/2