Problem 8-61 Cons. of Momentum
A space vehicle and its fuel tank are moving with a velocity of \(350\; m/s\) toward a space station. The fuel tank is then jettisoned to the rear so that its velocity is only \(250\; m/s\) toward the station. What is the new speed of the space vehicle? The mass of the vehicle is \(3.25\) times that of the tank. [Ans. \(380\; m/s\)]
Note: When we are finished with the solution to this problem I will lead you through an alternative but quite equivalent solution.
In questions of this type it is a good idea to make simple drawings of the "before" and "after" situations. Which pair properly represents this problem?
