Mechanics Question

A comet has broken into three pieces of masses m1, m2, m3 with velocities
v1, v2 and v3 respectively. Find the velocity v0 of the comet before it has
broken.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Unoticed

A comet has broken into three pieces of masses m1, m2, m3 with velocities
v1, v2 and v3 respectively. Find the velocity v0 of the comet before it has
broken.

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Use conservation of linear momentum.

RonL

Is this just M*v0 = m1*v1 + m2*v2 + m3*v3 where M is the mass of the comet before it breaks up?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Unoticed

Is this just M*v0 = m1*v1 + m2*v2 + m3*v3 where M is the mass of the comet before it breaks up?

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Yes, but remember that this is a vector equation, so the momenta add vectorally. (ie. if this is a problem in 2D then you actually have two equations:

and
)

-Dan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Unoticed

Is this just M*v0 = m1*v1 + m2*v2 + m3*v3 where M is the mass of the comet before it breaks up?

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But the mass before braekup is equal to the sum of the masses after break up so you have:



RonL