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elsternj
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Homework Statement
On September 8, 2004, the Genesis spacecraft crashed in the Utah desert because its parachute did not open. The 210-kg capsule hit the ground at 311 km/h and penetrated the soil to a depth of 81.0cm . Assuming it to be constant, what was its acceleration (in m/s2 ) during the crash?
Homework Equations
F=ma
f=Dv2
The Attempt at a Solution
m=210kg
g=9.8m/s
w=2058N
vy=86.4m/s
Fy=w-f=ma
Fy=mg-Dv2=ma
=2058-D(86.4)2=210a
Now I have D and a as unknowns. Not sure where I am going wrong here. I have equations with D in them for terminal speed but i am assuming this doesn't reach terminal speed because then a would be equal to 0 would it not? and 0 is not the right answer. those equations would then have v and D as unknowns.