Directions: Consider the following scenarios ignoring the effects of gravity:
1. You are the capitan of a spacecraft traveling in the far reaches of outer space, a great distance from any other body. Unexpectedly your radar indicates a meteor on a collision course with your craft, necessitating a sudden change of speed and direction. Explain, in simple but physically correct terms, the mechanism that your craft uses to enable you to (i) alter your direction and (ii) change (increase or decrease) your speed.
2. After completing this maneuver you resume your initial direction and speed. Suddenly all engine power is lost for two hours. Explain what happens to the motion of your craft when the power is lost and during this time period.
3. Scotty finally makes repairs and you have engines firing again. Unfortunately they are still not quite repaired and they fire at a constant rate (that is, they are providing constant thrust) and can't be turned off. Explain the motion of your craft when the engines fire up again and as they are constantly firing.
THANK YOU!!!
1. In order to alter the direction of your spacecraft, you would need to apply a force on the craft. This can be achieved by using thrusters or engines mounted on your spacecraft. By directing the exhaust gases in a specific direction, you can generate a force in the opposite direction, causing your craft to change its direction.
To change your speed, you need to understand Newton's second law, which states that the force applied to an object is equal to its mass multiplied by acceleration. To increase your speed, you would need to increase the force applied by your engines. This can be done by increasing the thrust generated by the engines or by adjusting the angle of the thrusters to provide a greater forward force. Conversely, to decrease your speed, you would need to reduce or reverse the force applied by your engines.
2. When all engine power is lost, your spacecraft will continue to move due to its inertia. Inertia is the property of an object to resist changes in its motion. Since there is no external force acting on your craft, it will continue to move in the same direction and at the same speed as it was before the power loss.
During this time period, your craft will experience no acceleration or change in speed because there is no force being applied to it. Your craft will essentially be in freefall, as it will be moving under the influence of any external gravitational forces and other bodies present in space.
3. When the engines start firing again at a constant rate, your spacecraft will experience a constant thrust. Since your engines can't be turned off, the force provided by the engines will continue to act on your craft, propelling it in the direction opposite to the exhaust gas. The constant thrust will result in a constant acceleration, as per Newton's second law.
The motion of your craft will depend on the direction of the force produced by the engines. If the thrust is opposite to your initial direction of motion, your craft will decelerate and eventually come to a stop. If the thrust is along the initial direction of motion, your craft will accelerate and its speed will gradually increase. The rate of acceleration will depend on the magnitude of the constant thrust and the mass of your craft.
It's important to note that in reality, there are many other factors to consider, such as the presence of other gravitational bodies, the effect of friction, and other external forces. However, in the given scenario, these factors are ignored, and only the basic principles of motion and forces are considered.