Physics

Problem

A microsatellite of mass

400\,\text{kg}

is initially drifting in space with negligible speed relative to an inertial frame. Its onboard thrusters are fired, giving it a velocity of

2.0\,\text{m/s}

at an angle of

30^{\circ}

above the positive

x

–axis in the

x

–

y

plane. a. (a) Resolve the satellite’s final velocity into its

x

and

y

components. b. (b) Determine the corresponding components of its linear momentum. c. (c) Write the momentum vector in component form

\big(p_x\,\hat i + p_y\,\hat j\big)

and calculate its magnitude. d. (d) Calculate the impulse delivered to the satellite by the thrusters and state its direction using unit vector notation.

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