Mass of asteroid is unknown. An asteroid is approaching Earth at 20 km/sec. Fort
ID: 1998504 • Letter: M
Question
Mass of asteroid is unknown.
An asteroid is approaching Earth at 20 km/sec. Fortunately it will pass in front of Earth and not hit it. For the sake of this problem, you can assume that Earth is moving in a straight line along the negative x axis and the asteroid is moving in a straight line along the negative y axis at a speed v_i. After the "near encounter" the trajectory of the asteroid has deviated by 20 degree. What is the final speed v_f of the asteroid? The speed of Earth in its orbit is 30 km/sec.Explanation / Answer
momentum will be conserved in y axis,
mvi = mvf cos 20 degree
vf = vi/ cos 20 degree
= 20/ cos 20 degree
= 21.28 m/s answer