- #1
jay2001
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Homework Statement
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A 3200 kg space vehicle (including a launchable lifeboat) is traveling with a velocity of 300 m/s in a straight trajectory [East]. The lifeboat (200 kg) is fired at a speed of 1000 m/s [N of original trajectory].
a) After firing it is found that the horizontal component of each object’s velocity is still 300 m/s [along original trajectory]. Explain why.
Homework Equations
p = p'
p = mv
The Attempt at a Solution
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More of a theory question than problem solving... but I'm stumped on this. I feel like they shouldn't both have horizontal velocity components of 300 m/s - I believe that the lifeboat should have a velocity of 1000 m/s [N] (so a horizontal velocity component of zero), and the space vehicle would be redirected slightly South of East, so the horizontal velocity component would change from 300 m/s. Am I wrong, or just misunderstanding?