DOC PREVIEW
Redlands PHYS 231 - Study Notes

This preview shows page 1 out of 2 pages.

Save
View full document
View full document
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 2 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 2 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience

Unformatted text preview:

RW 5 Name___________________Read 2b.5 – 2b.8About this assignmentEncounter with an asteroid.This is a large problem. Work it on paper before attempting to turn in your results and explanations here. You must turn in your diagram for part (a) on paper.In June 1997 the NEAR spacecraft, on its way to photograph the asteroid Eros, passed within 1200 km of asteroid Mathilde at a speed of 10 km/s relative to the asteroid (Figure2.34). From photos transmitted by the 805 kg spacecraft, Mathilde's size was known to be about 70 km by 50 km by 50 km. It is presumably made of rock. Rocks on Earth have a density of about 3000 kg/m3 (3 grams/cm3).(a) Make a diagram to show qualitatively the effect on the spacecraft of this encounter with Mathilde.Show the trajectory starting when the spacecraft is approaching Mathilde from far away, and continuing to when it is moving away from the asteroid and is again far away. This diagram is important for visualizing what happens. You will turn in the diagram on paper in class.(b) Make a very rough estimate of the magnitude of the change in momentum of the spacecraft that would result from encountering Mathilde.|p|  ___________ kg·m/sExplain in detail how you made your estimate.(c) Using your result from part (b), make a rough estimate of how far off course the spacecraft would be, one day after the encounter. (You will be given credit for this part if it is consistent with your answer to part b, even if the answer to part b is incorrect.)______________ m(d) From actual observations of the location of the spacecraft one day after encountering Mathilde, scientists concluded that Mathilde is a loose arrangement of rocks, with lots of empty space inside. What was it about the observations that must have led them to this conclusion?Experimental background: The position was tracked by very accurate measurements of the time that it takes for a radio signal to go from Earth to the spacecraft followed immediately by a radio response from the spacecraft being sent back to Earth. Radio signals, like light, travel at a speed of 3×108 m/s, so the time measurements had to be accurate to a few nanoseconds (1 ns = 10-9


View Full Document

Redlands PHYS 231 - Study Notes

Download Study Notes
Our administrator received your request to download this document. We will send you the file to your email shortly.
Loading Unlocking...
Login

Join to view Study Notes and access 3M+ class-specific study document.

or
We will never post anything without your permission.
Don't have an account?
Sign Up

Join to view Study Notes 2 2 and access 3M+ class-specific study document.

or

By creating an account you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use

Already a member?