A spacecraft is traveling with a velocity of + 3250 m/s. Suddenly the retrorockets are fired, and the spacecraft begins to slow down with an acceleration whose magnitude is 10.0 m/s2. How far does the spacecraft travel until it comes to a momentary halt?

Question

Physics

Emilia Baxter

4 July, 13:35

A spacecraft is traveling with a velocity of + 3250 m/s. Suddenly the retrorockets are fired, and the spacecraft begins to slow down with an acceleration whose magnitude is 10.0 m/s2. How far does the spacecraft travel until it comes to a momentary halt?

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Answers (1)

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Bethany Kidd · Answer 1

Answer;

= 528 km

Explanation;

Assuming the question is how far would you be from the asteroid when your relative velocity is zero.

The time taken to stop is 3250/10 = 325 secs

and your average velocity is 3250/2

So, the distance traveled is 3250 * 325 / 2 = 528 km

Alternatively;

- if you started with v^2 = 2as

to get s = v^2 / (2a) you get exactly the same calculation and of course the same result.