Purchase Solution

Modelling a physics problem

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Because parents are concerned that children are learning "wrong"
science from TV, you have been asked to be a technical advisor for
a science fiction cartoon show on Saturday morning. In the plot, a 
vicious criminal (Natasha Nogood) escapes from a space station 
prison. The prison is located between galaxies far away from any
 stars. Natasha steals a small space ship and blasts off to meet
her partners somewhere in deep space. The stolen ship accelerates 
in a straight line at its maximum possible acceleration of 30
m/sec2. After 10 minutes all of the fuel is burned up and the ship
 coasts at a constant velocity. Meanwhile, the hero (Captain Starr)
 learns of the escape while dining in the prison with the warden's
daughter (Virginia Lovely). Of course he immediately (as soon as s
he finishes dessert) rushes off the recapture Natasha. He chose an identical ship, which has an identical maximum 
acceleration, going in an identical direction. Unfortunately,
 Natasha has a 30 minute head start. Luckily, Natasha's ship did
not start with a full load of fuel. With his full load of fuel,
 Captain Starr can maintain maximum acceleration for 15 minutes.
 How long will it take Captain Starr's ship to catch up to
 Natasha's?

Purchase this Solution

Solution Summary

A hypothetical, physics fiction problem is solved.

Solution Preview

For Natasha's space ship constant velocity (v1), by using
v = u +a*t
v = v1 = ?,
u = 0,
t = 10 min = 10*60 = 600 sec,
a = 30m/s^2

=> v1 = 0 + 30*600 = 18000 m/s == 18 km/s

In first 10 min, distance travelled by Natasha,
s = ut + 1/2 a t^2
s = s11 = 0*600 + (1/2)*30*(600)^2 = 5400000 m == 5400 km

in 20 min (=30-10) distance travelled by Natash,
s12 = v1*20*60 = 18000*20*60 = 21600000 m == ...

Solution provided by:
Education
  • BEng, Allahabad University, India
  • MSc , Pune University, India
  • PhD (IP), Pune University, India
Recent Feedback
  • " In question 2, you incorrectly add in the $3.00 dividend that was just paid to determine the value of the stock price using the dividend discount model. In question 4 response, it should have also been recognized that dividend discount models are not useful if any of the parameters used in the model are inaccurate. "
  • "feedback: fail to recognize the operating cash flow will not begin until the end of year 3."
  • "Answer was correct"
  • "Great thanks"
  • "Perfect solution..thank you"
Purchase this Solution


Free BrainMass Quizzes
Pre-school Scissor Skills

Learning to use scissors properly is an important pre-school skill. This quiz will provide a brief review of typical skill development and pre-requisite activities.

Reading Skills

What are some pre-requisites to teach reading? This quiz offers a brief description for a few literacy skils.

Academic Expert Training Quiz

This is the training quiz for Academic Expert applicants. Must be completed after reviewing the four Training videos.

Autism

Do you know all about autism? Find out with this quiz.

Early Childhood Development

Children develop at a range of paces. However, there are some generally accepted early childhood development milestones. This quiz focuses on skills associated with birth to 9 months. Understanding typical childhood development is integral knowledge for educators, healthcare professionals, and many other careers.