NASA has developed Deep-Space 1 (DS-1), a spacecraft that is scheduled to rendezvous with the asteroid named 1992 KD (which orbits the sun millions of miles from the earth). The propulsion system of DS-1 works by ejecting high-speed argon ions out the rear of the engine. The engine slowly increases the velocity of DS-1 by about 19.0 m/s per day.
(a) How much time (in days) will it take to increase the velocity of DS-1 by 11000 m/s?
_____________days
(b) What is the acceleration of DS-1 (in m/s2)?
_____________m/s^2
One Response
change in velocity = acceleration x time
acceleration = 19 m/s per day
change in velocity = 11000 m/s
11000(m/s) / 19 m/s/day) = 11000/19 days = 578.95 days
1 day = 24 hours = 1440 minutes = 86400 seconds
19.0 m/s per day = 19.0 m/s per 86400 seconds = 19/86400 m/s/s =19/86400 m/s^2 = 2.20 x 10^-4 m/s^2