Physics

Physics

Problem

Three small spacecraft drift freely in space with the following velocities measured from an inertial reference frame: • Craft 1: mass 2.0 kg2.0\,\text{kg}, speed 3.0 m/s3.0\,\text{m/s} at 0∘0^{\circ} (due east) • Craft 2: mass 1.5 kg1.5\,\text{kg}, speed 2.0 m/s2.0\,\text{m/s} at 120∘120^{\circ} • Craft 3: mass 1.0 kg1.0\,\text{kg}, speed 4.0 m/s4.0\,\text{m/s} at 250∘250^{\circ} Determine the total linear momentum vector of the three-craft system, expressing your answer in unit-vector form (px i^+py j^)\bigl( p_x\,\hat i + p_y\,\hat j \bigr) with units.

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