Asteroid \(\mathrm{A} 1, m_{\mathrm{A} 1}=3.60 \times 10^{6} \mathrm{~kg}\), and asteroid \(\mathrm{A} 2\), \(m_{\text {A2 }}=1.20 \times 10^{6} \mathrm{~kg}\), collide head-on in space. Approximate (rather poorly) the collision as being elastic. Observers watch the event from two space platforms. An observer on platform Q measures the speed of A1 to be \(528 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\) and the speed of A2 to be \(315 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}\), and sees A2 heading directly toward A1. The second platform, platform \(\mathrm{Z}\), is at rest in the zero-momentum reference frame of the asteroids.

(a) What is the combined momentum of the asteroids measured from platform \(Q\) ?

(b) What is the velocity of platform \(\mathrm{Z}\) relative to platform \(\mathrm{Q}\) ?

(c) Draw velocity, momentum, and kinetic energy graphs for the asteroids as viewed from platform Z, using graphs like those in Figure P6.74. Assume the collision begins at \(t=40 \mathrm{~s}\) and lasts for \(20 \mathrm{~s}\).

(d) Add a curve for the momentum of the system to the momentum graph you constructed in part \(c\).

(e) What happens to the kinetic energy when its curve bends? ( \(f\) ) On your kinetic energy graph from part \(c\), show what an observer on platform Z sees for the convertible and nonconvertible kinetic energies of the asteroids. ( \(g\) ) Repeat parts \(c-f\) as seen from platform Q.

Data from Figure P6.74

Transcribed Image Text:

800 400 (m/s) P. (10 kg m/s) 2 1 0 0 t(s) -400. -1 0 20 40 60 80 100 K (10" J) 6 4 2 0 t(s) 0 20 40 60 80 100 t(s) 0 20 40 60 80 100