Arocket of total mass 3180 kg is traveling in outer space with a velocity of 115 m/s toward the sun. it wishes to alter its course by 30.0°, and can do this by firing its rockets briefly in a direction perpendicular to its original motion. if the rocket gases are expelled at a speed of 1750 m/s, how much mass must be expelled?

Let Vx = 115m/s 

in order for the angle to be 30 degrees 

tan 30 = Vy/115

Vy = 66.40 m/s 

Using conservation of momentum:

m(1750) = (3180 - m) 66.40 

1750m = 211152 – 66.40m 

1750 m + 664.40 = 211152

1816.40 m = 211152

m = 211152 / 1816.40

m = 116.25 kg would be the answer

the focus of lesson 1 is newton's first law of motion - sometimes referred to as the law of inertia. newton's first law of motion is often stated as. an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

explanation: