Question

A satellite in force-free space sweeps stationary interplanetary dust at a rate $\alpha$ is a constant. What is the deacceleration of the satellite

• A. $- 2 \alpha v ^ { 2 } / M$
• B. $- \alpha v ^ { 2 } / M$
• C. $+ \alpha v ^ { 2 } / M$
• D. $- \alpha v ^ { 2 }$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

$+ \alpha v ^ { 2 } / M$

Answer 2

$F = \frac { d p } { d t } = v \left( \frac { d M } { d t } \right) = \alpha v ^ { 2 }$ ∴$a = \frac { F } { M } = \frac { \alpha v ^ { 2 } } { M }$